Read about the management in the divisional series first game in each series. Calls to come back again tomorrow.
Day 1 of the Divisional Series was a breakdown of front office mismanagement, good and bad coaching decisions, and GREAT pitching. We saw our first extra innings game of the postseason and I can see more coming. Let’s get right into the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Brewers vs Cubs
This series is going to be a true testament as to why the Cubs front office needed to go after pitching help at the deadline. I’m not talking about Mike Soroka or Aaron Civale. I’m talking about getting a big time starter or two. The Cubs had limited options to choose from to start game 1 against the Brewers and manager Craig Counsell chose a guy on 3 days rest, but a guy who also threw in the bullpen less than 36 hours before game 1 in anticipation to come into a high leverage, high intensity inning. His adrenaline was depleted at that point. Matthew Boyd looked bad in game 1, only getting through two-thirds of an inning and allowed two earned runs on 4 hits and a walk. The Cubs turned to Mike Soroka, mentioned deadline acquisition, who looked equally as bad but was able to get through a full inning. He gave up 5 hits and 2 walks, allowing 3 earned runs to score. This was a terrible start for the Cubs, and I have to look at the Front Office, Manager Craig Counsell, and Pitching Coach Tommy Hottovy for that.
The Milwaukee Brewers started Freddy Peralta and he was dealing. After allowing a home run to the lead off hitter, Michael Busch, Peralta was on fire. He got through 5.2 innings, gave up 2 earned runs (both solo home runs) and struck out 9 batters. I didn’t disagree with taking out Peralta, he had given up two hits in a row before being taken out and Pete Crow-Armstrong, a lefty, was coming up. Peralta was taken out for lefty Aaron Ashby and he got Crow-Armstrong to pop out to left.
The biggest coaching story in this game was a passive hitting team turning into an aggressive one. The Brewers completely ambushed the Cubs pitching staff which was not expected. Manager Pat Murphy did a great job preparing his team for this series, and his coaches! Nico Hoerner committed an error at second base and instead of holding the runner at third, Brewers third base coach, Jason Lane, sent William Contreras to the plate and scored without a throw. This heads up coaching decision allowed a run to score and keep the rally going for the Brewers. That set the stage for the Brewers to take a 1-0 series lead, despite two unanswered home runs by the Cubs.
Blue Jays vs Yankees
Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays did what a lot of teams can’t… shut down the Yankees offense. Wow! Gausman didn’t run into trouble until the 6th inning and despite the trouble, he only gave up 1 earned run. The bullpen came in and shut it down. I cannot say the same for the Yankees.
I can’t really talk much about the coaching decisions in this game because the Blue Jays just dominated in every aspect of game 1. Despite the 10-1 loss; the Yankees did do something positive at the end of the game. They didn’t take Paul Blackburn out, they made him finish the game. This secured another bullpen arm to be fresh for game 2. I loved that decision by Aaron Boone.
John Schneider and his staff pushed all the right buttons for the Blue Jays today. They were in control from the first pitch. Helped by Vlad Guerrero Jr’s home run, the Blue Jays dominated the Yankees. If Guerrero, Jr. keeps this pace he will be the unanimous World Series MVP.
Phillies vs Dodgers
Christopher Sanchez and Shohei Ohtani equalized each other out on the pitching mound. It was a good duel between the two and Sanchez actually did better in my opinion. Sanchez went 5.2 innings, allowed 2 earned runs, and struck out 8. Ohtani went 6 innings giving up 3 earned runs and striking out 9. What changed the ballgame was the bullpen.
Everything in this game made sense except for bringing in David Robertson first from the bullpen. Robertson had an ERA over 4 in the regular season, meanwhile, Tanner Banks had a 3.07, Matt Strahm had a 2.74, and Orion Kerkering had a 3.3. Obviously the Phillies wouldn’t bring in Jhoan Duran unless it was a safe opportunity but bringing in Robertson that early in a tight game didn’t make much sense to me. I’d want my best guys pursuing keeping the lead.
The Dodgers bullpen shut down the Phillies hitters, but what can you expect when you have Tyler Glasnow coming out of the pen in the playoffs. Most teams aren’t luxurious to have a starter like Glasnow, let alone a reliever. This game came down to doing the right moves with their bullpen. The Phillies didn’t get it right in game 1.
Mariners vs Tigers
Our first extra inning game of the postseason. I love it! Free baseball is always fun. Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene continue to produce at the plate for the Tigers. Troy Melton had a great start. I texted one of my buddies before the game and said, “if Melton gets through 4 and gives up only one run, the Tigers should win this game.” They did exactly that. A solo shot by Julio Rodriguez was the only run Melton let up in 4 innings, and struck out 4. Everyone in the Tigers bullpen was great but I have to single out Will Vest. A 2 inning performance that was as cold as ice.
The Mariners got a good start out of George Kirby, whose only mistake came on a 1-2 sinker that was up in the zone. Kerry Carpenter wrecked it. The Seattle bullpen did a great job too, until extra innings when Carlos Vargas walked the leadoff hitter on a 7 pitch walk and then proceeded to throw a wild pitch that allowed Spencer Torkelson to take second base. After that came two strikeouts but a good piece of hitting by Zach McKinstry put the Tigers ahead. Vargas let a sinker get too much of the plate and McKinstry drove it right back up the middle.
I can’t say anything bad about the management in this game. I thought both teams were led very well, the Tigers just iced up when they needed to.
We have a lot of baseball left to be played. Day 2 of the MLB divisional series continues! See you tomorrow.
