MLB Weekly Digest October 29th Edition

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The last week in MLB is focused on a team in the American League winning another World Series, and another team in the American League hires a new manager.

Boston Red Sox Win World Series, Steve Pearce Named World Series MVP

The 2018 World Series was great between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox entered the Fall Classic as the favorites and won the World Series in just five games against the Los Angeles Dodgers as they won 5-1 last night.

THE BOSTON RED SOX ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

Chris Sale strikes out Manny Machado to close out the World Series! pic.twitter.com/u62k4SVQPv

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 29, 2018

They won the first two games of the World Series, lost an instant classic in Game 3, had some late magic to win Game 4 and were dominant in closing out the series in Game 5.

The third game of this series will leave an indelible mark for fans of both teams as it was the longest game in World Series history.

The game lasted a whopping seven hours, 20 minutes, which the Dodgers were victorious in the 18^th inning thanks to a walk-off home run by Max Muncy.

There were 18 pitchers and 27 position players used in Game 3, and it marked the first time a World Series game went more than 14 innings.

The Red Sox were not only the better team throughout the series, but their manager Alex Cora pushed the right buttons. Cora was superb in managing his bench and the bullpen.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts made some questionable decisions in this series, especially in Game 4.

Dodgers’ starter Rich Hill was tossing a gem, but with one out and a runner on first base in the seventh inning of a 4-0 lead, Roberts choose to take out Hill and use his bullpen.

Once Hill was removed, the Red Sox began their comeback, by scoring nine runs over the final three innings.

It’s impossible to know if Hill would’ve escaped the seventh inning without allowing the Red Sox to score but considering the marathon game both clubs played the previous night, Hill should have remained in the game.

The key aspect of Game 5 for the Red Sox was the lights out performance from David Price. He allowed one run in seven innings and shut down the Dodgers in the clinching game.

Eyes on the Price. #Wo

rldSeries pic.twitter.com/YprLUypUEW— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2018

The narrative when the postseason started was Price struggled in the playoffs but proved he can shine when the lights are brightest.

Price also made some history in this great outing, per Buster Olney of ESPN and Stats By Stats.

ELIAS: If the Red Sox win, David Price will have clinched two consecutive series against Cy Young winners – Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw – in the same postseason. That’s never been done before.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 29, 2018

With seven innings and three hits allowed, @RedSox David Price is the fifth pitcher ever to pitch 6+ innings and allow three hits or fewer in 3 straight postseason starts.

Price joins Jon Matlack (1973), Mike Mussina (1997), Kevin Brown (1998), and Clayton Kershaw (2013).

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) October 29, 2018

Tonight’s @RedSox starter, David Price, finishes the #WorldSeries with 13.2 innings pitched and seven hits.

The last pitcher to pitch 13+ innings and allow seven or fewer hits in the World Series? John Smoltz in 1996 (14 innings, 6 hits).

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) October 29, 2018

The World Series MVP was Red Sox outfielder Steve Pearce and he came up huge in Game 4 & Game 5. He posted a .333 batting average with three home runs and eight RBIs in the World Series.

You never know who will come up big in the #WorldSeries. pic.twitter.com/WhfoBuF0r2

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 29, 2018

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 29, 2018

Pearce made some history in Game 5 by hitting two home runs and is in select company, per MLB Stat of the Day.

Steve Pearce joins Babe Ruth and Ted Kluszewski as the only players 35 or older to have a multi-homer #WorldSeries game. pic.twitter.com/G5s9BImZ1v

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 29, 2018

The Red Sox had one of the more dominating postseasons in MLB history. They lost only three games in the playoffs and finished the year with 119 total wins across regular and postseason, which is the second-most in MLB history by a championship team (1998 New York Yankees:125), per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

The Boston Red Sox are World Series champions. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, and took the series in five games. The Red Sox won 119 games this year, the second most in baseball history.

To say this is the best Red Sox team ever would not be a stretch at all.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 29, 2018

The Red Sox are the 13^th team in divisional era (1969) to have the best regular-season record and win the World Series – and the first AL team since the 2013 Red Sox.

Red Sox starter Chris Sale also played a crucial role in the team having success in the postseason and joined a very exclusive group, per Stats By Stats.

.@RedSox ace Chris Sale becomes the third pitcher in the divisional era to start on Opening Day and get the final out for the #WorldSeries champs, joining Josh Beckett (2003) and Madison Bumgarner (2014).

He’s the first AL pitcher to do so since Allie Reynolds in 1950.

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) October 29, 2018

The Red Sox won their fourth title in 15 years. The 2018 season was extremely special for them and winning the title caps off a terrific year for them.

Four rings in 15 seasons.

That will help you climb this list real fast. #CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/2yivCzg515

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 29, 2018

Pure domination. #CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/oD0cPnl7XK

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 29, 2018

Minnesota Twins Name Rocco Baldelli New Manager

The Minnesota Twins announced a couple days ago Rocco Baldelli as the team’s new manager.

Welcome to Minnesota, Rocco!

Get to know @roccodbaldelli: https://t.co/6c5cwbY4h2 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/KoywkG0exb

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 25, 2018

The Twins fired Paul Molitor after the club went 78-84 last season, just one year removed from winning the American League Manager of the Year for guiding the Twins to an 85-77 record and a berth in the AL Wild Card Game. Molitor posted a 305-343 record in four seasons with the Twins.

The Twins did interview other individuals for the job including the team’s bench coach Derek Shelton, Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada.

However, they felt Baldelli was the right person to manage the team moving forward.

Baldelli, who is 37-years-old doesn’t have any prior experience managing a major league club, but he did spend three seasons as the first-base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Baldelli was a former sixth overall pick who spent seven years in the majors as an outfielder, six with the Rays and one with the Boston Red Sox.

He finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2003, but his career was cut short due to injuries.

The Twins have plenty of young talent and it’s one reason why the club hired Baldelli as he can relate to the players on the roster.

So, hopefully, the hiring of Baldelli leads the Twins to achieve success during the 2019 season.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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