2025 MLB Champions Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2025 World Series Champions.  The Dodgers had to keep coming back in the series and in games, but they did it.  I'm sure Toronto fans are beside themselves.  It felt like many games were theirs to win.  But the Dodgers despite not hitting well (.203) and having a staff ERA lower than Toronto, (3.95), they did it.  And the story was pitching.  And I love that we are talking about pitching.  Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dominant in three appearances totaling 17 innings including 2 innings in game 7 after starting the previous game.  The Dodgers just came up with big pitches, big hits and big defensive plays when they counted most.  Congrats to LA and I'm happy for Freddie, Mookie, Shohei and Kershaw.  And there was a shirtless Clayton Kershaw appearance after game 7 that we didn't know we needed.

2025 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays

 We get Los Angeles and Toronto in the 2025 World Series.  I think this could be a really good series.  I know LA is 9-1 in this post season and their starters are coming off a dominant sweep of the Brewers in the NLCS.  But the Blue Jays are a good team.  You don't win 94 games by accident.  The key for both teams is to get past the starters in my opinion.  The Dodgers have the advantage starting Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell and Ohtani. But the Blue Jays' offense is really good, and it showed in beating the Yankees in the Division Series and beating the Mariners in the ALCS.  It's led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who is having an outstanding playoffs.  Overall the Toronto offense has been solid.  I think this is the key.  Can that offense get to the LA starters?  I'm hoping for a Blue Jays win, continued good hitting from Vlad, and a good series.

2025 MLB Playoffs Championship Series

 We had some good baseball in the Division Series leaving us with Seattle - Toronto and Los Angeles - Milwaukee in the ALC and NLCS.  It was fun seeing Vlad Guerro Jr. have a great series against the Yankees.  He's so good and nice to see him shine on the big stage.  Seattle's Cal Raleigh got 8 hits in the Division Series overcoming a Detroit pitching staff that had a 2.98 ERA.  I'm looking forward to LA-Mil.  The Brewers just find ways to win with an offense who can seem to score against anyone.

I've said it before but Seattle - Milwaukee would be a great World Series as we'd get to crown a first-time champion.  The network would hate it but man it'd be fun.

2025 MLB Playoffs Divisional Round

 Man, the Red Sox battled but young phenom Schlittler was amazing in game three of their series.  He kept the defense off balance and he deserves all the props he gets for his performance.  The next round gives us some fun matchups.  Divisional rivals Yankees-Blue-Jays and Cubs-Milwaukee adds some spice to the matchups while Dodgers-Phillies should be great.  Detroit-Seattle also looks like a good series.  With my team out I'd like to see a Seattle-Milwaukee World Series.  Neither have won a title and seeing a franchise win their first one is always fun.  Toronto and Chicago would also be good in the World Series.  Who do I think moves on to the next round?  I'll take Seattle, New York, Milwaukee and Philly.  Hoping for good series all around.

2024 World Series: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series kicks off tonight and I'm sure the Fox network is thrilled.  I say that tongue in cheek.  The Dodgers and Yankees are the best teams in the league, and this is what we should all be wanting.  No way I can root for the Yanks though, so I'll be pulling for LA.  I get they are both evil empires spending money like they print it in a back room but I have to root for someone and Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani make the Dodgers much easier to root for.  Honestly, I don't see any huge advantage by either team.  Dodgers overall lineup and relivers versus the strengths of the Yanks with the top of their lineup and starters.  If I had to put money on this one, I'd be hurting.  Hopefully that means it's a good series.  We do get the two best power hitters facing off in Judge and Ohtani.  A rekindling of the fun these teams gave us in three World Series from 1977 to 1981.  The Yankees won two out of the three.  Rooting for some fun, some iconic moments and drama in whatever form that might take.

Friday, Oct. 25
Game 1: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 2: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Monday, Oct. 28
Game 3: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 4: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Wednesday, Oct. 30
Game 5: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Friday, Nov. 1
Game 6: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Saturday, Nov. 2
Game 7: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Atlanta Braves Season Ends in Game 7 Loss

 

Atlanta lost the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.  This one really hurt.  They were up 2-0 and 3-1 in this series.  I know LA is the better team but the Braves were so close.  Even though they gave up an amazing 16 dingers to the Dodgers the Braves pitching still did really well.  Hit with injuries the starting staff was Max Fried and whoever else they could throw out there and the starters did really well.  That said they only pitched 29 innings leaving a lot to the bullpen.  And the Dodgers offense was just too much.  And the Braves' horrible base running made coaches across the sport curl up in a ball and cry.  Some excellent games though and it was fun to watch even with one eye open most of the time.

Los Angeles won this series and deserve their shot in the World Series against Tampa Bay.  They had better pitching, great defense and a crazy number of homeruns.  It'll be fun to see if this Dodgers group can get their first title in their third World Series appearance.  And who doesn't want to see more of Dustin May's hair?  I'll root for the Rays to get their first World Series title but won't feel too bad if Clayton Kershaw and this group take it all.  Well I might feel OK with it in about six months. 

Boston Red Sox Win the World Series!

The Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series 4 games to 1 culminating a historic season in which they set a team record with 108 wins.  No matter how good they were BoSox fans, including myself, knew anything could happen in the playoffs and going through two 100 win teams and an excellent Los Angeles Dodgers team gave us plenty to worry about.  Still they only lost three games en route to the championship.  That really spoke to the talent they put on the field and to first year manager Alex Cora.  Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Chris Sale, playoff heroes Jackie Bradley Jr., Stephen Pearce, Joe Kelly and David Price and the rest of the roster from top to bottom helped put up "W" after "W" .  This was a fun team to watch and deserves all the accolades coming their way.  I really enjoyed this season.  It was great to watch a team dominate like they did and be able to bring home the trophy.  

       I do want to give props to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Considering how tough some of those games were to include the historic game three it is hard to believe Boston won 4-1.  That is a testament to how good the Dodgers are.  They just ran into a better team but good on them for making their second straight World Series appearance and how hard they played.

I know I'm late on this but travel for work threw me off the last two weeks and I actually thought I'd already posted something.  My bad.  Most will look upon the Red Sox and us Boston fans as having more than enough championships.  I really don't take them for granted.  The 2004 Championship ended years of frustration.  Growing up watching Yaz, Rice, Tiant, Clemons, and others never get there was so hard as a fan.  2004 was more than a championship - it was how it all went down.  That was a fun team who overcame the unbelievable to beat the Yankees and breeze through the World Series.  While the last three championships will never be that team they are just as special and as a fan I was very excited for this team's championship.  GO BOSOX!

Red Sox to the World Series Against the Dodgers

 The Boston Red Sox are back to the World Series.  While a favorite to make it after a 108 win regular season the post season offers no promises.  It wasn't easy even if they did only lose two games in their series with New York and Houston.  Now the Red Sox will play a Los Angeles Dodgers team with plenty of firepower on offense and pitching I think can match Boston's.  I think the Chris Sale - Clayton Kershaw matchup could be epic - or at least i hope it will be.  After that I'm comfortable with Nathan Evaldi but you have to wonder what David Price will give the Sox.  His last outing was excellent but before that he was receiving an ovation for not losing a game over four innings.  The Red Sox bullpen is good but I'm not quite sure it is stacked enough to win a bunch of bullpen games.  Bottom line is I'm excited the Sox are in the World Series and I think they have a great chance to take it all.  Even better this is set up to be a very good series.  Go Sox!    

Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers (NLDS)

I would rather the Braves have home field advantage against the Los Angeles Dodgers but I still think they have a good shot in the NLDS series.  The Braves were actually better on the road and luckily they won't see Clayton Kershaw until game two.  It'll be interesting if the Atlanta pitchers can solve them and how does manager Brian Snitker handle this team in his first take at managing the Braves in the playoffs.   

My big concern is Atlanta isn't good against good teams. Luckily the NL East was bad this year but in the playoffs there won't be any Miami Marlins or Philadelphia Phillies teams to beat up on.  Still Atlanta is a good team with a bunch of offensive weapons.  You don't luck in to 90 wins.  This team has such exciting young talent and I'm hoping they'll keep it going in the playoffs.  This season has been such fun watching these young guys produce.  If the offense keeps hitting and the pitching can step up I think they can compete with anyone they match up against.  Go Bravos!

Houston Astros - World Champions!

The Astros are the 2017 World Series winners after taking down the Los Angeles Dodgers in a fun seven game series.  I enjoyed the series that had plenty of young stars on both sides.  I was rooting for the Houston Astros since they had never before taken home the trophy.  For all the offense everyone spoke of neither team batted particularly well (Houston - .230/Los Angeles - .205).  There were plenty of dingers with the 'Stros launching 15 and the Dodgers hit 10 to keep us excited.  George Springer was definitely the star in this series for Houston.  How can you not enjoy seeing young stars doing great on the sport's biggest stage?  If my teams are not in the series all I can ask for is to be entertained and boy was I.  Game 7 was a bit of a snoozer but knowing someone would raise the trophy over their head at the end of the night still gave me plenty of anticipation. I love Jose Altuve as a player so it is nice seeing him reach the top so early in his career.  You never when or if  a team will win it again no matter how stacked they are (read:  90's Atlanta Braves).

It's also fun to see those who win their first championship after years in the league.  Justin Verlander is the most prominent of course and was nothing short of a beast after being traded to Houston.  Then there is Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Francisco Liriano as well as the familiar names on the Houston coaching staff and in the front office.  I'm happy for Nolan Ryan as well who while a front office guy he still gets to enjoy this.  Then there are the stories of Evan Gattis and city of Houston itself.  Houston and the Astros can enjoy this for a whole other year while the rest of the league tries to unseat them.  Though as currently constructed this may not be the last time we see the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic.   

 

And Verlander keeps on winnnig...

Dodger Card Fun

More cards that came from the collection my friend hooked me up with.  These are some fun Dodger cards I found.  Pitcher Roger McDowell was always good for having fun.  I also enjoyed the Pedro card.  Below is Tommy Lasorda leading his guys during what I assume is spring training.  Below that is Dave Winfield interviewing Darryl Strawberry.  I'm sure I'll find more fun cards as I go through the rest of the cards and will throw them up when I do.