Cnotes MLB Best Bets - Trends - News Thru the World Series !

[CNOTES]

LEADING OFF: Nats, Cubs try to clinch spots in NLCS
October 11, 2016


A look at what's happening all around the majors today:


ON THE CUSP


A team from the nation's capital has not won a postseason series since Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators took the 1924 World Series crown. Bryce Harper and the Nationals can end that drought and reach the NL Championship Series with a victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Washington leads 2-1 in the best-of-five playoff, and neither team had announced its starter for Game 4.


CHANCE TO GET EVEN


After Joe Panik's 13th-inning RBI double helped the Giants avoid elimination again Monday night, San Francisco tries to even its series with the Cubs. Chicago leads the best-of-five NLDS 2-1 but missed out on a sweep because of clutch hits from Panik and Conor Gillaspie during the Giants' 6-5 win Monday. San Francisco seeks its 11th consecutive victory when facing postseason elimination when it sends Matt Moore to pitch against John Lackey.


REST UP


Cleveland will face Toronto in the ALCS after eliminating Boston on Monday, and now the Indians and Blue Jays wait until Friday to begin their series. The break interrupts a strong run for the wild-card Blue Jays, who won their sixth straight game by beating Texas on Sunday to wrap their ALDS sweep. The four-day rest was still welcome. ''Some people like to say a couple of days off might throw our timing off,'' catcher Russell Martin said Sunday. ''I really don't believe in that. At this point in the year, a couple of days off can do wonders.''


TEBOW TIME


Tim Tebow has arrived in the desert and is ready to make his Arizona Fall League debut. The former NFL quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner participated in his first practice on Monday night, one day before the Scottsdale Scorpions' season opener against the Glendale Desert Dogs. Tebow homered on the first pitch of his instructional league debut in Florida, but the AFL will be a step up in competition, filled with some of the top minor league players in baseball.


TAL'S END


Tal's Hill is coming down. The Astros began work on renovations to center field at Minute Maid Park on Monday that will remove the hill and add field-level seating. The project will bring in the center-field fence from 436 to 409 feet and be completed by opening day in 2017. Tal's Hill was a tribute to Cincinnati's Crosley Field and other old ballparks. It was named after longtime Astros executive Tal Smith.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:


10/10 - 2 - 1 - 0 + 3.15


WLT PCT UNITS


M/L Picks.............7 - 5....................58.33 %............ + 2.31


O/U Picks............2 - 6 - 2................25.00 %............ - 4.00


TRIPLE PLAYS - ***** 1 - 4


M/L-.......... 1 - 2 - 0
O/U-..........0 - 1 - 1




TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


WAS at LAD 05:00 PM


WAS +214 *****


O 6.5




CHC at SF 08:30 PM

SF +113 *****


U 7.5

 

[CNOTES]

Dodgers edge Nats to force Game 5
October 11, 2016


LOS ANGELES (AP) Clayton Kershaw was out of the game, his head down in the dugout, the Los Angeles bullpen faltering and the season slipping away.


Chase Utley plucked the Dodgers from the brink, singling home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the eighth inning.


Suddenly, Game 5 was on the horizon.


One more chance to pursue the club's first World Series appearance in 28 years.


''There is no quit in this team,'' closer Kenley Jansen said.


The Dodgers avoided elimination Tuesday with a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals that forced a deciding game in their NL playoff.


Jansen worked the ninth for a save, one day after giving up four late runs during Los Angeles' loss in Game 3.


''I got out there and focused and fought,'' he said.


The finale is Thursday in Washington, with 20-game winner Max Scherzer set to pitch for the Nationals.


''Man, this is going to be a heck of a ballgame,'' he said. ''The effort from both sides over the first four games has been incredible. Great pitching, great hitting, defense, everything.''


Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will use left-hander Rich Hill and rookie Julio Urias, but did not announce which one will start. Hill is expected to get the ball first.


''If anyone gives up on this team, they haven't seen us play a whole lot this year,'' Roberts said, ''and it starts with what Clayton did - short rest and leaving it all out there. Everyone fed off that.''


Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who turned to Kershaw on three days' rest to salvage their season.


The score was tied 5-all with two outs in the eighth when Andrew Toles got hit by a pitch from loser Blake Treinen. Ethier followed with a single to left and Utley singled to right, scoring Toles from second for a 6-5 lead.


Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, the Nats had runners on first and second against Kershaw with two outs. The crowd chanted Kershaw's name as he and Bryce Harper battled through eight pitches before Harper drew a walk.


''Man, that's what baseball is all about right there - a matter of will,'' Nats manager Dusty Baker said. ''Kershaw was on empty. We knew it. They knew it. Everybody knew it.''


Harper's walk loaded the bases and chased Kershaw, who walked off with his head down. He sat alone in the dugout with his head resting on his right hand.


''Kershaw was outstanding,'' Baker said. ''That's one of the best performances I've seen, especially on three days' rest.''


But the Dodgers' bullpen nearly gave the game away.


Pedro Baez came in and hit Jayson Werth with his only pitch, forcing in a run to make it 5-3. Baez got booed off the field.


Daniel Murphy's single off Luis Avilan dropped between Toles and Joc Pederson in left-center field, scoring two runs to tie it at 5. Avilan also heard boos.


Joe Blanton, who earned the win, retired Anthony Rendon on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.


''Our bullpen has been unbelievable,'' Kershaw said. ''Joe did what Joe's been doing all season. He's been through a lot in his career but he came in and shut them down.''


After failing to close out the Dodgers on the road, Washington gets one more chance to win a playoff series for the first time since the franchise relocated from Montreal. NL East champions in three of the past five years, the Nationals were unable to advance during their two previous trips to the postseason.


''That's why we fought so hard for the home-field advantage,'' Baker said. ''This year, it's coming to fruition.''


Desperate to avoid another early playoff exit, the Dodgers went with Kershaw, their three-time Cy Young Award winner who won Game 1 last Friday despite going just five innings and allowing three runs.


This time, he was charged with five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 - equaling his second-best postseason total - and walked two.


The left-hander was limited to 149 innings while compiling a 1.69 ERA during the regular season. He missed 2 1/2 months with a mildly herniated disk in his back.


Kershaw opened the game by giving up a leadoff single and a walk before Murphy's RBI single.


The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on Gonzalez's two-run shot that scored Justin Turner, who was hit by a pitch from Joe Ross.


Werth's RBI single tied it 2-all in the third.


Los Angeles again answered in the bottom of the inning, with Kershaw getting the rally going with a double to left field. He slid into second and clenched his fists in a rare show of emotion.


Kershaw scored on Turner's single with two outs. Pederson got hit by a pitch from Ross with the bases loaded, forcing in Turner


Ross made his postseason debut for the Nationals, giving up four runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings, equaling the shortest playoff start in the history of the Montreal-Washington franchise. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked two. He hasn't pitched more than four innings since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 18.


LOOK OUT!


Five players were hit by pitches, including four Dodgers, which set a single-game franchise playoff record. Of the quartet, two ended up scoring. Werth was the lone Nationals player to get hit.


There have been 11 hit batters in the series, a postseason record.


''No one on either side is trying to hit anybody with everything on the line right now,'' Scherzer said. ''That's just baseball being played at its highest.''

TRAINER'S ROOM


Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg experienced discomfort in his right elbow during a bullpen session Monday at Dodger Stadium. He threw 30 or 31 pitches instead of the scheduled 35. Strasburg has been out since tearing the pronator tendon in his elbow on Sept. 7.


Baker said Strasburg was throwing the ball ''very good'' and he's not concerned about the pitcher's progress. Strasburg has said he would try to return this season if the Nationals advance to the NLCS.

CAN'T CLOSE `EM OUT


Baker has lost eight consecutive postseason games when his team would have advanced with a victory. That's the longest such streak in major league history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

ELIMINATION GAMES


The Dodgers improved to 12-15 in postseason elimination games since moving to Los Angeles.

 

[CNOTES]

Cubs rally to stun Giants to win NLDS
October 11, 2016


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Kris Bryant tossed his glove high in the air, Jake Arrieta jumped over the dugout railing and the rest of the Chicago Cubs rushed to join the celebration.


Pure revelry and a sigh of relief, all at once.


World Series favorites since opening day, the Cubs took another step in their championship chase Tuesday night by rallying for four runs in the ninth inning of Game 4 to beat San Francisco 6-5 and win their NL Division Series.


''You could see it coming. You could see little signs. We've done it before and the guys, we don't quit,'' Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler said. ''It's a little more special doing it here. They for sure were thinking that they won it. But we play 27 outs and we don't give up until we win.''


Javier Baez's tiebreaking single capped the comeback against a beleaguered bullpen that sabotaged the Giants one last time.


The team with the best record in the majors this year will open the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. That matchup is tied 2-all heading into the deciding Game 5 on Thursday.


''I've seen it so many times from this group. It's a big part of our philosophy,'' manager Joe Maddon said.


Seeking their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs will get a few days of rest before opening the NLCS. Chicago was swept by the New York Mets in a four-game NLCS last year.


Held to two hits over eight innings by Matt Moore, the Cubs trailed 5-2 heading to the ninth.


Now, they're headed back to their second consecutive NLCS after snapping San Francisco's 10-game winning streak when facing postseason elimination.


Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras tied it with a two-run single with none out. Baez singled in the go-ahead run two batters later, and the Cubs capitalized on Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford's second costly error and more untimely blunders by the Giants' once-reliable relief staff.


One day after getting tagged in the eighth inning, Aroldis Chapman closed this one out by striking out the side in order. When he set down Brandon Belt to end it, Chapman's teammates rushed to the mound to hug him and begin their celebration.


After finishing off the resilient Giants, Maddon should have his rotation all lined up because lefty Jon Lester wasn't needed to pitch a potential Game 5 in the Division Series.


Maddon has his confident, power-hitting Cubs on quite an October roll. They already beat All-Star Johnny Cueto and ex-Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija, then waited until Moore's stellar outing was done to pounce.


Downright unflappable for years in these pressure-packed scenarios, the Giants had won 10 straight games when facing postseason elimination. The World Series champions in 2010, '12 and '14, their every-other-year title chance is over in '16 with the club's first postseason series defeat in the last 12.


''We don't think we're going to win the World Series every even year. I mean, it took 50-something years to get one here,'' quipped Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose bullpen management was scrutinized throughout a disappointing second half.


The orange towel-waving sellout crowd of 43,166, perhaps spoiled this decade by the every-other-year title success, had been counting on a few more games by the bay this October.


Moore, acquired from Tampa Bay at the Aug. 1 trade deadline for games of this magnitude, struck out 10 as his former Rays manager - Maddon - watched from the other dugout.


Long after Cubs starter John Lackey's night was done, Hector Rondon pitched the eighth for the win.


WHAT CURSE?


Lester doesn't buy all the superstition surrounding Chicago's championship drought.


''Nobody really cares in there about a curse or a goat or anything else,'' he said. ''If we make a mistake, we're not going to blame it on a curse or anything else like that. We're going to blame it on ourselves and be accountable for it and move on to the next play or the next moment. ... We've got too many young guys in there that don't even know what that stuff is, you know what I mean? So, it's almost better to play naive and just go out and worry about us, worry about the Cubs and not anything else in the past or, like I said, any animals.''


POWER PITCHERS


Two pitchers homered for the Cubs in the series: Arrieta on Monday and reliever Travis Wood in Game 2. The 1924 New York Giants were the only other team to have two pitchers go deep in a postseason series, according to ESPN Stats & Info.


''That's pretty incredible, isn't it?'' Maddon said.


GIANTS INJURIES


Left fielder Angel Pagan missed his second straight start with back spasms, and third baseman Eduardo Nunez's strained right hamstring is still slow to heal, leaving the Giants to contemplate replacing one on the roster. But no move was made before the game.


CRAWFORD'S MISCUES


The shortstop was the first Giants player to commit two errors in a postseason game since Don Mueller on Sept. 29, 1954, in Game 1 of the World Series.

 

[CNOTES]

A capsule look at the Blue Jays-Indians playoff series
October 12, 2016


A look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians:


Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Cleveland (8:08 p.m.); Game 2, Saturday, at Cleveland (4:08 p.m.); Game 3, Monday, Oct. 17, at Toronto (8:08 p.m.); Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Toronto (TBA); x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Toronto (TBA); x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 21, at Cleveland (TBA); x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 22, at Cleveland (TBA). (All games on TBS).


x-if necessary.


---


Season Series: Indians won 4-3.


---


Projected Lineup:


Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (.300, 11 HRs, 50 RBIs), 3B Josh Donaldson (.284, 37, 99), 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.263, 42, 127), DH Jose Bautista (.234, 22, 69), C Russell Martin (.231, 20, 74), SS Troy Tulowitzki (.254, 24, 79), RF Michael Saunders (.253, 24, 57), CF Kevin Pillar (.266, 7, 53), LF Ezequiel Carrera (.248, 6, 23) or Melvin Upton Jr. (.238, 20, 61 with San Diego and Toronto).


Indians: DH Carlos Santana (.259, 34, 87, 99 walks), 2B Jason Kipnis (.275, 23, 82, 41 doubles), SS Francisco Lindor (.301, 15, 78, 19 steals), 1B Mike Napoli (.239, career highs with 34 HRs, 101 RBIs), 3B Jose Ramirez (.312, 11, 76, 46 doubles, .357 with runners in scoring position), RF Lonnie Chisenhall (.286, 8, 57), LF Rajai Davis (.249, 12, 48, team-high 43 steals), CF Tyler Naquin (.296, 14, 43, among top 5 rookies in several offensive categories), C Yan Gomes (.167, 9, 34, only 74 games because of injuries).


---


Projected Rotation:


Blue Jays: RH Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA), LH J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.18), RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37, career-high 204 IP), RH Aaron Sanchez (15-2, AL-leading 3.00).


Indians: RH Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14, 227 Ks in 215 innings), RH Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26, career-high 190 innings), RH Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40, 36 HRs in 174 innings), RH Mike Clevinger (3-3, 5.26 in 17 games, 10 starts).


---


Relievers:


Blue Jays: RH Roberto Osuna (1-6, 2.68, 36/39 saves), RH Jason Grilli (7-6, 1.29, 81Ks in 59 innings with Atlanta and Toronto), LH Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.96), RH Joe Biagini (4-3, 3.06 in 60 games as a rookie), LH Francisco Liriano (8-13, 4.69 with Pittsburgh and Toronto; 2-2, 2.92 in 10 games, 8 starts, for Blue Jays).


Indians: RH Cody Allen (3-5, 2.51, 32/35 saves), RH Bryan Shaw (2-5, 3.24, 75 games), LH Andrew Miller (10-1, 1.45 ERA, 12 saves, 14.9 Ks per 9 innings with Yankees and Indians), RH Dan Otero (5-1, 1.53, 39 of last 46 appearances scoreless), RH Jeff Manship (2-1, 3.12, 53 games), RH Zach McAllister (3-2, 4.44, 53 games).


---


Matchups:


Toronto and Cleveland, previously AL East foes, have never met in the postseason. But the cities squared off this spring for a spot in the NBA Finals when LeBron James and the Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors en route to a long-awaited championship. ... As in ALDS between Indians and Red Sox, there are connections between the franchises. Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro spent 24 years with Indians, working his way up through the front office before leaving last year. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins also came from Cleveland, and Blue Jays player development adviser Eric Wedge is a former Indians manager. ... Len Barker pitched a perfect game for Cleveland against Toronto in May 1981. ... Indians played two of their most memorable games this season against Toronto. They won 2-1 in 19 innings on July 1 (Canada Day) to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games. Santana hit the decisive homer off Darwin Barney, the second Blue Jays infielder to pitch in the game. Toronto topped the Indians 9-6 the following day. Cleveland also beat the Blue Jays 3-2 on Aug. 19, winning on Naquin's game-ending, inside-the-park homer. ... Four of the seven regular-season meetings were decided by one run. ... Bauer came out of the bullpen in the July 1 win and pitched five scoreless innings. ... Indians batted .227 against Toronto pitchers in 2016. ... Chisenhall hit .348 against Blue Jays despite striking out 12 times in 23 at-bats. ... Napoli batted .148 vs. Blue Jays but has 20 career homers and 51 RBIs against Toronto. ... Kluber went 0-1 this season and is 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA in five career starts against Blue Jays. He pitched seven shutout innings in his postseason debut against Boston. ... Miller has faced the Blue Jays more than any Cleveland pitcher, posting a 3-1 record and 4.11 ERA in 30 games. ... Donaldson is 9 for 18 with five doubles and three RBIs in four playoff games this year. He has a .778 slugging percentage and has scored five runs. ... Encarnacion is 6 for 16 (.375) with three homers and seven RBIs in playoffs. He has four career postseason homers, the second-highest total in Blue Jays history. Bautista and Joe Carter each have six. ... Tulowitzki is 6 for 17 (.353) with five RBIs in playoffs. ... Two of Bautista's four hits this postseason have been home runs. ... Blue Jays have outscored opponents 26-12 in four postseason games and outhomered them 10-3. ... Estrada allowed one run over 8 1/3 innings to beat Texas in Game 1 of ALDS. He is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in eight postseason games, four starts. ... Sanchez is expected to make only one ALCS start as Blue Jays limit his career-high workload.


---


Big Picture:


Blue Jays: After snapping a 22-year postseason drought in 2015, Toronto reached the playoffs for the second straight season under manager John Gibbons. The last time the Blue Jays did that was a three-year run from 1991-93 that ended with back-to-back World Series titles. ... This time, Blue Jays (89-73) captured the top AL wild card by winning their last two regular-season games in Boston. They beat division-rival Baltimore at home in the wild-card game on Encarnacion's three-run homer in the 11th inning, then eliminated Texas in the ALDS for the second consecutive year. The win over the Rangers marked the first postseason sweep in Blue Jays history. ... Toronto is 6-0 in October after going 11-16 in September, its worst month of the season. ... Blue Jays averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs in September and October regular-season games, a full run off their season average of 4.70. ... Blue Jays starters were strong down the stretch, allowing no more than one earned run in 12 of the final 17 games. The bullpen struggled, however, blowing leads five times in a seven-game stretch that ended Oct. 1. ... Blue Jays went 46-35 at home, the fourth-best mark in the division. ... Toronto has several pending free agents, including Bautista, Encarnacion, Saunders, Cecil and RHP R.A. Dickey.


Indians: Cleveland makes its fifth ALCS appearance and first since 2007. Indians haven't been to World Series since 1997. ... Indians (94-67) took lead in AL Central on June 4 and never looked back, winning division with ease. They've overcome adversity all season. Star outfielder Michael Brantley played in just 11 games following shoulder surgery, but team got unexpected contributions from Ramirez, Naquin and others to more than pick up slack. ... Cleveland's starting pitching was supposed to carry club, but it's been a consistent lineup and one of baseball's best bullpens that has Indians playing again in October. Manager Terry Francona's deft touch has kept team energized and believing it can make a deep playoff run. ... Cleveland hasn't won the World Series since 1948, but following Cavs' NBA title in June, Indians don't feel pressured to end city's championship drought. ... Front office stepped up at trade deadline and acquired Miller, who might be most valuable reliever in majors. Also, team acquired Brandon Guyer and Coco Crisp to provide depth in outfield. Abraham Almonte is not available in postseason because of PED suspension. ... Indians are different team at home, where they went AL-best 53-28 and led league with 11 walkoff wins. ... Indians didn't lose three straight all season.


---


Watch For:


- Center Stage. Die-hard baseball fans know Lindor, one of the game's rising stars. He's got all the tools: a sweet swing, golden glove and smile that can light up any ballpark. The 22-year-old shortstop plays with a youthful joy that will draw the TV cameras and national audience to him as never before.


- Liriano's Status. The left-hander was removed from Toronto's roster in the ALDS because of a concussion sustained in Game 2. He was struck in the back of the head by Carlos Gomez's line drive, measured at 102 mph off the bat. Liriano, who has made two relief appearances this postseason, said this week he felt fine. He's not eligible to return until Game 2 of the ALCS.


- Miller Time. Francona's decision in Game 1 of the ALDS to bring in Miller in the fifth inning - his earliest appearance of the season - proved to be a defining moment as Cleveland's bullpen closed out the opener and the Red Sox never recovered. Francona won't hesitate to use the talented lefty in a nontraditional way again. Miller has not allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings over eight career postseason appearances. He has 17 strikeouts and has limited opponents to a .077 batting average (3 for 39).


- Devon's Knee. Travis was scratched from Game 2 of the Division Series with a bone bruise in his right knee. After a cortisone shot Saturday, he was available off the bench in Game 3 but did not play. Atkins said Travis is improving and is expected to return for the ALCS. Travis said he felt much better and will be ready to go in Game 1. Barney, a former Gold Glove winner, made two starts for Toronto in the ALDS.


- Cleveland Rocks. After waiting 52 years for one of its major pro sports teams to win a championship, Cleveland could be on the brink of a second one in four months. James and a few teammates attended the Division Series to support the Indians and promised a return visit.

 

[CNOTES]

Corey Kluber to start Game 1 of ALCS for resilient Indians
October 12, 2016


CLEVELAND (AP) Corey Kluber is back at the top of the Indians' make-it-up-as-they-go rotation.


Cleveland will start its ace in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, one of the few certainties Indians manager Terry Francona has as his team plays for a spot in the World Series.


Trevor Bauer, who started the opener of the Division Series against Boston, will pitch Game 2 and Josh Tomlin will take the mound for Game 3 in Toronto on Sunday. After that, Francona has ''penciled in'' Mike Clevinger for Game 4, but that plan could change depending on what happens in the first three games.


The uncertainty is nothing new to Francona, who has been forced to juggle his rotation for weeks after losing starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to injuries.


Francona's decision to send out Kluber first was expected after the right-hander showed no signs of a late-season quadriceps injury and pitched seven shutout innings in Game 2 against the Red Sox. Kluber limited baseball's highest-scoring team to three hits and ended any concerns about him not being himself in his first postseason.


The Indians will need Kluber and the rest of their staff to be on when they face the wild-card Blue Jays, who battered Texas in their ALDS by hitting eight homers and scoring 22 runs.


''They're good,'' said Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. ''They're excellent. Their whole roster is pretty good, as far as swinging the bat. We've got to make pitches from Pitch 1. They're a little bit different makeup than Boston. They're not going to sit around and take a first-pitch strike. You can't just groove a first pitch to them. You've got to throw quality strikes right out the get-go, and then make sure you stay ahead. That's going to be the challenge, making sure you throw quality strikes early and see what happens after that.''


Kluber, who will face Toronto right-hander Marco Estrada in the opener, went 18-9 during the regular season, bouncing back from a 16-loss season in 2015. He was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays.


While Francona has had to mix and match with his starters, he won't have Salazar on the ALCS roster.


The Indians sent the right-hander to Arizona to build up stamina in hopes that he might be able to return for this series after being sidelined since early September with forearm tightness. But Francona said the 11-game winner is not ready, and the Indians don't want to rush him back.


''He's doing pretty good,'' Francona said. ''He's not back yet where he's throwing all his pitches or letting it go 100 percent. I think if we ask him to do that, he might be reaching right now. We've been pretty vocal about the first priority is getting him back healthy. I think this proves it. We wouldn't do that to somebody.''


The loss of Salazar was compounded when Carrasco broke his right hand when he was hit by a line drive on Sept 17. Francona has had to be creative with his bullpen, using eight relievers to complete the game in which Carrasco got hurt.


''There's not much our bullpen hasn't experienced throughout the course of the year,'' team president Chris Antonetti said. ''We've had all different types of games, from the extra-inning game in Toronto to the game when Carlos left after two pitches. So, there's not too much our guys haven't handled and I think they're prepared and ready to go pitch when it's their turn, whenever Tito calls upon them.''


Francona used his bullpen masterfully against the Red Sox, bringing in left-hander Andrew Miller earlier and relying on late-inning stalwarts Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen.


The manager will likely take a similar approach into the series with Toronto.


At this point, he doesn't have much choice.

 

[CNOTES]

One ace standing: Nats' Scherzer to face Dodgers in Game 5
October 12, 2016


WASHINGTON (AP) While going to ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest helped the Los Angeles Dodgers stave off elimination in their NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals, it also has raised the question:


Who will start Game 5 for the Dodgers?


''I know Kershaw isn't pitching,'' Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. ''Thank God.''


While there will be no Kershaw and LA manager Dave Roberts still has not named his starter, the Nationals will hand the ball to Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer in the decisive Game 5 at home Thursday night.


With a spot in the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs at stake, Scherzer is the man Washington wants on the mound and he's embracing the pressure.


''I've kind of said over the past few days, I've said that a handful of times throughout my career, `Hey, this is the biggest start of my career,''' Scherzer said Tuesday. ''How you handle that, going out there using the emotion of that scenario, that everything is on the line, look, I'm not going to shy away from it. This is the biggest start of my career.''


Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) lasted only six innings and lost Game 1 after giving up home runs to Corey Seager and Justin Turner. While Scherzer is looking for some redemption, the Dodgers are looking forward to another shot at him.


''I mean, we beat him once already,'' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. ''We put some pretty good at-bats against him in Game 1, and we're confident that we can do that again.''


The Nationals also had some good at-bats against LA lefty Rich Hill, beating him in Game 2. Hill (12-5, 2.12) will most likely be the Dodgers' starter in Game 5, though Roberts will use a ''collection of arms'' and could quickly turn to fresh 20-year-old lefty Julio Urias if there's trouble.


Washington's bullpen has been strong, but Scherzer is in the spotlight.


''I know who Max is and how he goes about it,'' right fielder Bryce Harper said. ''I think there are things we can do in the bullpen, as well, if Max doesn't get to the ninth. He's got a lot of help. So hopefully we'll get a couple of runs early and do what we can to stay with our approach and stay within ourselves (and) just have a lot of fun.''


Scherzer considers the big stage plenty of fun. He said it doesn't matter that it's not him against Kershaw again and expects the Dodgers' best effort and a charged atmosphere.


''It's going to be a heck of a ballgame,'' Scherzer said. ''These are two great teams. We've seen great pitching, we've seen great offense, great bullpens, clutch hitting. We've seen it all. So the opportunity to go out there in Game 5, back in D.C. with our fans, it's going to be a heck of an experience.''


Some other things to watch in Game 5 between the Dodgers and Nationals:


LEFT, LEFT, LEFT: The Dodgers can trot out a lineup of seven left-handed batters, starting with Chase Utley and Seager and continuing down to Gonzalez, Joc Pederson, switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal and Andrew Toles. That's a powerful crew that can do damage if Scherzer makes even a couple of mistakes.


MURPH-TOBER: Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy has picked up where he left off last October with the New York Mets. Murphy is 6 for 13 with six RBIs in the series but has yet to hit a home run. He had seven in the playoffs last year, including three against the Dodgers.


BULLISH 'PEN: Nationals relievers have combined to allow two runs on 10 hits in 14 2/3 innings in the series. Lefties Sammy Solis, Marc Rzepczynski and Oliver Perez have flummoxed the Dodgers, who developed a reputation for struggling against left-handed pitchers.

BAD AIM, NOT BLOOD: Pitchers have combined to hit 11 batters through four games, the most in a playoff series in major league history. That's not because things have been chippy. ''I think our guys have done a lot of breaking balls to the lefties and caught their feet,'' Scherzer said. ''That's just baseball. No one on either side is trying to hit anybody with everything on the line right now.''

 

[CNOTES]

LEADING OFF: Day off in playoffs, Nats-Dodgers travel to DC
October 11, 2016


A look at what's happening all around the majors Wednesday:


NO GAMES


Baseball takes a day off during the playoffs. A pair of Game 5s were scheduled in the AL Division Series - but the Blue Jays and Indians have already clinched, so they get extra time to rest. They meet in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series on Friday night in Cleveland.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM


The Dodgers and Nationals get a day off for travel before the deciding Game 5 of their NL Division Series on Thursday in Washington. ''Biggest start of my life. I'm not going to shy away from it,'' said 20-game winner Max Scherzer, set to pitch for the Nationals. ''The effort from both sides over the first four games has been incredible. Great pitching, great hitting, defense, everything.'' Not to mention pain, too: There have been 11 hit batters in the series, a postseason record.


WAIT AND SEE


The Nationals will see if Stephen Strasburg is feeling any better after the ace felt discomfort in his right elbow earlier this week. Strasburg's bullpen session at Dodger Stadium was cut short Monday. He has been out since tearing a tendon in his elbow on Sept. 7. Strasburg has said he would try to pitch again this season if Washington reaches the NL Championship Series.


HEALING


Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome right knee. The team said it was ''a routine cleanup'' and that they lefty is expected to be ready for spring training. ... Royals pitcher Chris Young had surgery to his abdominal area, pelvis and groin this week. The club said the veteran right-hander should be OK for camp. ... Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun is having surgery on a bilateral core muscle injury. He will need at least six weeks of recovery time, but he is expected to head into spring training with no limitations.

 

[CNOTES]

Estrada to start ALCS opener for Blue Jays against Cleveland
October 11, 2016


TORONTO (AP) After wrapping up their Division Series sweep of the Texas Rangers on Sunday night, the Toronto Blue Jays were able to kick back Monday, celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving and watch the Cleveland Indians beat Boston, finalizing their AL Championship Series matchup.


Back at Rogers Centre for a light workout on Tuesday afternoon, Toronto tabbed right-hander Marco Estrada as its starter for Friday's Game 1 in Cleveland.


Manager John Gibbons said Estrada was ''the logical choice'' to start the opener after winning elimination games for the Blue Jays in both the ALDS and ALCS in 2015.


More recently, Estrada allowed one run and four hits in 8 1-3 innings to beat Texas in Game 1 of the ALDS last Thursday.


''He pitched two of our biggest games in the playoffs (last year) to keep us alive,'' Gibbons said, ''and then he had the big one the other night. He's one guy, too, that probably needs more than anybody to keep on as close to normal (rest) as possible, not too much time off.''


Estrada, who did not speak to reporters Tuesday, is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in eight career postseason games, including four starts. He made four postseason relief appearances for Milwaukee in 2011.


Gibbons said right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who led the AL with a 3.00 ERA this season, will likely make just one start in the ALCS as the Blue Jays continue to limit his career-high workload.


Toronto, which lost to Kansas City in six games in last year's ALCS, is looking to reach the World Series for the first time since winning back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993.


To get there, they'll have to beat an Indians squad that Gibbons called ''tremendous,'' and ''probably the most balanced team in the American League.''


''It's a very, very good offense, one of the best out there, so that's not easy,'' Gibbons said. ''They've got a good defensive club. They're real athletic and young. Tough ball club to shut down. They're hot like us, too.''


The Blue Jays won three of seven meetings with the Indians in the regular season. Four of those games, including all three in an August series at Cleveland, were decided by one run.


''We're going to have a tough task at hand but we feel like we have a team that can do that,'' Blue Jays slugger and reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson said.


The Indians are seeking to give title-starved Cleveland its second championship in less than a year after the NBA's Cavaliers ended a 52-year drought dating to a 1964 NFL championship for football's Browns.


''Nobody in this clubhouse doubts what we're what capable of,'' left-hander Andrew Miller said after the Indians swept the Red Sox with a 4-3 win Monday night. ''We saw in our games in Cleveland how much support we have. It's a special place to be. I think we have bigger things ahead of us, but it's not going to be any easier.''


Cleveland's payroll ranks among the lower third of big league teams, some $26 million less than Toronto's, but that's of little concern to Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin, who allowed two runs and four hits in five innings to beat Boston in Game 3.


''You can see it takes a special group of people instead of a group of superstars,'' Tomlin said.


Toronto will have four days off between eliminating Texas and playing Game 1 in Cleveland. It means valuable rest for everyone, Gibbons said, but especially for second baseman Devon Travis and left-hander Francisco Liriano.


Liriano was removed from the ALDS roster because of concussion sustained in Game 2 after he was struck in the back of the head by a Carlos Gomez line drive measured at 102 mph.


Liriano, who has made two relief appearances this postseason, said he felt fine after playing catch and riding an exercise bike Tuesday.


''The second day after I got hit I felt a little dizzy,'' Liriano said. ''After that, everything has felt normal. No headache, no dizziness, nothing.''


Liriano isn't eligible to return until Game 2 of the ALCS.


Travis battled a sore knee for almost a month before he was scratched from Game 2 against Texas. He was available off the bench in Game 3 but did not play.


''I'm feeling much better,'' Travis said. ''I'll be ready to go Friday.

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack


— Ottawa 5, Toronto 4 OT– Auston Matthews scored all of Leafs’ goals; if you have him in fantasy, you’re pretty bleepin’ happy today.


— Matthews is 5th player ever with a hat trick in his first game, first player ever with four goals in his debut.


— Former Baylor coach Art Briles is working with the Browns’ offense in Cleveland as a consultant. Browns have three former Baylor players.


— Cam Newton returned to practice in Carolina, good news for them.


— Best part of Cubs’ run is seeing 87-year old comedian Bob Newhart post pics of himself on Twitter “hoisting the W” after every Cubs win. Newhart’s great TV show in the 70’s was set in Chicago.


— Lot of recruiting sites that rate HS prospects are full of it; Denzel Valentine is in the NBA now, was a great player at Michigan State. As a high school senior, he was listed as the country’s #129 prospect. Oy.


**********


Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Excerpts from an article that I think is important…….


Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr put a Washington Post article up on Twitter last night which is very interesting; it deals with how (intentionally or not) Donald Trump has exposed a problem with our country’s tax codes. This article was written by Fareed Zakaria.


I’m posting the excerpts from this article because I learned a lot from it, about how basically corrupt our entire system is in this country and how our “leaders” damn sure better fix it pretty soon.


“Donald Trump has done America a great public service. No, really. By taking advantage of the country’s tax laws in such spectacular fashion, he has shone a spotlight on the corruption that is at the heart of American politics — the tax code……..


……….The problem with American taxes is something different: their complexity. The United States has the world’s longest tax code. The scholar Sean Ehrlich tabulated its word count at 3,866,392. Germany and France have codes that are less than 10 percent as long…….


………The complexity of the tax code exists by design, because it allows for the distinctive feature of the American political system: fundraising……..


America is unique among democracies in requiring, at all levels of politics, that vast amounts of cash be raised from the private sector. In order to get this money, senators and members of Congress need something to offer in return, and what they sell are amendments to the tax code. When you pay $5,000 to have a stale breakfast with a congressman, you are not paying for his insights or personality. You and others like you are buying a line of the code, which is why it is thousands of pages long. This is the world’s ultimate “pay for play” setup.


There are only two ways to fix this problem. One would be to stop people from paying politicians. But the Supreme Court ruled in Buckley v. Valeo in 1976 that money is speech and thus constitutionally protected. (As far as I know, this is a view shared by no other Western democracy.) That leaves another path — take away what Congress sells. If the tax code were to be made short and simple, with a handful of deductions, politicians would have little to offer people as a quid pro quo. You could still pay them, for their ideas and personality, but I suspect that the flow of money would slow to a trickle. It is the simple, single solution to the cancer in American politics. And we could thank Donald Trump for highlighting it.”

 

[CNOTES]

MLB


Thursday, October 13


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NLDS Game 5 Betting Preview: Dodgers at Nationals
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"This will probably be the biggest start of my career. I've said that a few times in my life, but I think this will be it." - Max Scherzer.


Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals (-155, 7)


Series tied 2-2


Max Scherzer has problems keeping the ball inside the ballpark and the Washington Nationals are hoping that won't be an issue in Thursday's decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer served up a career-worst 31 homers in the regular season and was taken deep by Corey Seager and Justin Turner in Los Angeles' 4-3 victory in Game 1.


Scherzer is aware the Nationals have never won a playoff series since relocating from Montreal and he didn't sidestep away from the importance. "This will probably be the biggest start of my career," Scherzer told reporters. "I've said that a few times in my life, but I think this will be it. You're going to get the absolute best out of everybody on both teams." The Dodgers are looking to reach the NL Championship Series for the second time in four seasons and are expected to turn to veteran left-hander Rich Hill. Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run shot in Tuesday's 6-5 victory - his only homer and RBIs in the series.


TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1


WEATHER REPORT: Conditions at Nationals Park will be clear and cool (game-time temperatures in the low 60's). There is a 10 percent chance of a shower rolling through early in the evening and the humidity level will be at 80 percent.


WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The Dodgers used their ace, Clayton Kershaw, on just three days rest in Game 4. Now Los Angeles will have to use Rich Hill on three days rest in Game 5. Meanwhile, the Nationals saved their ace Max Scherzer for Game 5 which means he is pitching on five days of rest. While Scherzer will be fresh, the Dodgers have been a much stronger offensive team versus right-handed pitchers this season, averaging 5.0 runs per nine innings with a .261 batting average, compared to just 3.5 runs and .210 versus LHP."


PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (12-5, 2.12 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96)


Hill is expected to start the contest but manager Dave Roberts asserted that 20-year-old rookie Julio Urias is also part of the Game 5 pitching plan. "I think that we talked about Rich as an option, obviously, but so is Julio and how we want to strategize to win Game 5," Roberts said at a press conference. "We're going to talk through it but it's nice now that we didn't have to go to Julio (in Game 4), so he's certainly an option." Hill lasted just 4 1/3 innings while losing Game 2, and he gave up four runs and six hits while striking out seven.


Scherzer allowed four runs and five hits in six innings while losing against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 1. The NL Cy Young award candidate expects another raucous atmosphere with the NLCS berth awaiting the winner. "If it's anything like Game 1, it's going to be such a thrill," Scherzer said. "Game 1 was unbelievable there in D.C. The fans were just going nuts from the first pitch. So the fact that it's going to be Game 5, I mean, our fans really brought it in Game 1, so I can only imagine the atmosphere going into Game 5."


TRENDS:


* Dodgers are 2-8 in their last 10 playoff road games.
* Dodgers are 0-4 in Hill's last 4 starts.
* Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 games following a loss.
* Nationals are 5-0 in Scherzer's last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Hill's last 7 starts overall.
* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
* Over is 8-2 in Kellogg's last 10 games behind home plate.


CONSENSUS: The public is leaning heavily toward Max Scherzer and the home favorite Washington Nationals at 70 percent. In totals action, Over 7 is seeing 70 percent of the wagers.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Long Sheet


Thursday, October 13


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LA DODGERS (93 - 73) at WASHINGTON (97 - 69) - 8:05 PM
RICH HILL (L) vs. MAX SCHERZER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 93-73 (-6.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 39-44 (-16.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
LA DODGERS are 7-12 (-10.6 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off this season.
LA DODGERS are 90-71 (-8.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LA DODGERS are 64-55 (-13.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 60-65 (-27.0 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 49-42 (-6.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
LA DODGERS are 31-39 (-12.6 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 180-148 (-18.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 179-147 (-18.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 114-99 (-17.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 76-71 (-12.0 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 7-3 (+4.2 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)


RICH HILL vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
HILL is 1-2 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 5.32 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.2 units)


MAX SCHERZER vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SCHERZER is 2-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.75 and a WHIP of 1.144.
His team's record is 2-7 (-4.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 6-1. (+4.8 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------








MLB
Short Sheet


Thursday, October 13


LA Dodgers at Washington, 8:05 PM ET
Hill: LA DODGERS are 9-14 SU after a one run win
Scherzer: WASHINGTON is 26-11 OVER in home games against left-handed starters-handed starters








MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up


Thursday, October 13


Dodgers @ Nationals


Hill is 0-3, 5.03 in his last four starts, he allowed four runs in 4.1 IP against Nationals earlier this series, his only start vs Washington this season and is 0-2, 8.59 in two career postseason starts, which were nine years apart. Dodgers are 1-3 in his road starts.


Scherzer is 4-1, 4.70 in his last six starts; he allowed four runs in six IP in losing Game 1 of this series, his only start against the Dodgers this year. He is 4-4, 3.93 in 11 career playoff starts. Nationals won four of his last five home starts.


Dodgers are in playoffs for 4th year in a row- their last World Series title was in 1988. LA is 7-3 vs Washington this season; they’re 2-7 in last nine road games. Nationals are 8-5 in last 13 games, 5-4 in last nine at home- they’re in playoffs for third time in last five years.


Roberts is a rookie manager. Baker is 22-27 as postseason manager; he won NL pennant is 2002 with the Giants.







MLB


Thursday, October 13


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


8:08 PM
LA DODGERS vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games when playing LA Dodgers
Washington is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers


-----------------------------------------


MLB
Dunkel


Thursday, October 13




LA Dodgers @ Washington


Game 961-962
October 13, 2016 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 13.044
Washington
(Scherzer) 16.269
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 3
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-150
7
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-150); Under

 

[CNOTES]

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:


10/11 - 1 - 3 - 0 - 2.00


WLT PCT UNITS


M/L Picks.............7 - 7....................50.00 %............ + 2.00


O/U Picks............3 - 7 - 2................42.85 %............ - 4.00


TRIPLE PLAYS - ***** 1 - 4


M/L-.......... 1 - 4 - 0
O/U-..........1 - 2 - 1






THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


LAD at WAS 08:00 PM


LAD +135


O 7.0

 

[indiana]

C/note.........BOL with today's action............indy

 

[CNOTES]

Thanks Indy........those dodgers move on......kershaw pulls a Bumgarner........cheersgif

 

[CNOTES]

Nats' season ends with bad decisions in NLDS Game 5 loss
October 14, 2016


WASHINGTON (AP) Their third-base coach made a bad decision, Max Scherzer made a bad pitch, their bullpen broke bad and in short order the Washington Nationals' season came to a crashing halt.


Within the span of a half-hour, the Nationals dug a hole they couldn't climb out of in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night in Game 5 of the NL Division Series. Washington lost its third consecutive playoff series on a sequence of mistakes that did nothing to change the sour October reputations of Scherzer, manager Dusty Baker and the Nationals themselves.


''It was tough to take, a tough loss,'' Baker said. ''We've got some improvement to make and hopefully we'll be back in the same position next year.''


For much of the night it looked like Scherzer could change the fortunes of the franchise thanks to his big-game pitching and an RBI single by unlikely clutch hitter Danny Espinosa. Then third-base coach Bob Henley inexplicably sent Jayson Werth into a no-doubt out at the plate on a double down the left-field line by Ryan Zimmerman, ending the sixth inning.


''He's aggressive, and there was two outs. ... He feels terrible about that because it didn't work,'' Baker said of Henley. ''But, you know, that wasn't what lost the game, really.''


Just four minutes later, Scherzer served up a solo home run to Joc Pederson on his first pitch of the seventh and his 99th of the game, setting off a domino effect. The end of Scherzer's outing was just the start of the trouble.


Baker called on five relievers - Mark Rzepczynski, Blake Treinen, Sammy Solis, Shawn Kelley and Oliver Perez - to get three outs. They eventually did so, but not before Carlos Ruiz drove in a run with a pinch-hit single and Justin Turner got two more home with a triple off the center-field wall.


The bullpen that produced Drew Storen's infamous meltdown in NLDS Game 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 and two losses to the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS in 2014 did the Nationals in once again. Rzepczynski got the loss after walking Yasmani Grandal, Solis allowed the single to Ruiz and Kelley the two-run triple to Turner and a 1-0 lead became a 4-1 deficit.


A two-run homer by pinch-hitter Chris Heisey in the bottom of the crazy, 66-minute seventh inning made it a one-run game woke up the sellout crowd of 43,936 that booed the announcement of the last Metro train leaving the ballpark's station. The Nationals strained but couldn't crack Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, and ace Clayton Kershaw finished off the game with a two-out save, the first of his major league career.

 

[CNOTES]

Giants CEO missed elimination loss
October 13, 2016


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Larry Baer left the ballpark in the sixth inning, and he remembers the exact moment because of the Kiss Cam on the scoreboard. The Giants CEO needed to get to Yom Kippur services at his synagogue by sundown Tuesday night, and San Francisco led the Cubs 5-2 at that point.


He listened on the radio as he drove 15 minutes from AT&T Park: scoreless seventh, then scoreless eighth. Baer parked and arrived for the Kol Nidre service at 8:15 p.m. - 15 minutes early for a change - then eventually went inside and turned off his phone.


The final score would have to wait for 90 minutes, yet Baer prepared for a flight first thing Thursday back to Chicago for Game 5 fully confident his club would stave off postseason elimination once more. The Giants had done so 10 times in a row, after all.


''I walked in, turned off my phone, ignored my phone - off in terms of me looking at it ... not being checked,'' Baer told The Associated Press on Thursday. ''A big Giants fan was sitting near me and said as I was literally walking to sit down, `We got out in the bottom of the eighth.' So, I took a deep breath and got into services for an hour and a half.''


With the Jewish High Holidays service over, a man from a couple of rows back approached and told him, ''I'm sorry.'' Baer initially thought someone had died. Then he got it. The season was over, an even-year failure for the first time this decade after World Series championships in 2010, `12 and `14.


''That's how I found out,'' Baer said of the 6-5 loss in Game 4.


He skipped socializing after the service and headed for his car, then ''sat in silence for a while.'' Eventually, he called family members and then general manager Bobby Evans ''to make sure he was sane.''


''I just sat in the car stunned,'' Baer said. ''Stunned.''


Baer has endured both the highs and lows as a baseball executive and devoted Jew when the postseason and High Holidays collide.


Two years ago when he readied to break the fast following Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Baer endured a similar story with a far sweeter ending.


''This has a better outcome,'' Baer recalled.


The Giants were in Washington for the NL Division Series and he stayed back in the Bay Area to be in temple. His father was being remembered, too, after Monroe Baer Jr. died in March 2014 at age 91. That time, Baer parked his car with the Giants trailing 1-0 late in the game. A stranger in the courtyard whispered in his ear ''Man on first.'' Baer went inside and the service was just beginning when someone else tapped him on the shoulder from behind with, ''Tie game.''


Baer assumed Game 2 went to extra innings but heard nothing when services ended, so his gut told him maybe the Giants had lost. A friend then urged him to ''get home, it's the bottom of the 13th.''


''I'm like, `Wow,' so I went to a party, a break-the-fast,'' Baer said of the celebration two blocks from temple. Baer noticed there were far fewer people around the food and the host immediately sent him upstairs, where rabbis and friends were gathered around a television watching the Giants in the 14th.


They stayed put through the 15th, 16th and 17th - and everybody then knew this game would end in the 18th, a significant number in Judaism derived from the Hebrew word chai, for long life.


''As we go to the top of the 18th, the rabbis and four people including myself simultaneously say, `It has to happen in the 18th because of the significance of the No. 18,''' he said. ''It was also pointed out that half of chai is up to bat, No. 9, Brandon Belt.''


Belt homered, and the Giants won 2-1.


''And the place erupts,'' Baer said. ''That was the perfect symmetry. ... So, we're talking about complete bookends, both characterized by the holiday. It's incredible. I'm amazed. I thought I'd be in temple Wednesday and be flying at 7 a.m. Thursday to Chicago.''

 

[CNOTES]

ALCS - Game 1 Preview
October 13, 2016


Toronto Blue Jays (93-73, 45-38 away) vs. Cleveland Indians (97-67, 55-28 home)


Game 1 Odds: Indians -135, Blue Jays +125, 7 ½
Series Odds: Blue Jays -145, Indians +125

How they got here


Toronto is back in the American League Championship Series for the second straight season, but the Blue Jays needed to win the Wild Card game this time around. The Jays outlasted the Orioles on a three-run walk-off home run from Edwin Encarnacion to advance to the American League Divisional Series. Toronto swept Texas in three games, including a pair of victories in Arlington in the first two contests. The Jays plated 22 runs against the Rangers, while Encarnacion and Jose Bautista have combined to hit five homers in the playoffs.


Cleveland cruised to its first AL Central title since 2007, while the Indians continued that momentum by knocking out the favored Red Sox in a three-game sweep in the ALDS. The Indians limited the Red Sox to seven total runs in the series, including a 6-0 shutout behind Corey Kluber in Game 2 as a -115 home favorite. The double-play combination of shortstop Jose Ramirez and second baseman Jason Kipnis combined to hit 9-for-21 (.428) with five runs scored against Boston, while the Cleveland bullpen allowed just two earned runs in 10.1 innings of work.


ALCS history


The Blue Jays fell in six games of the ALCS last season to the eventual champion Royals. Toronto last won a World Series in 1993 in the memorable Joe Carter walk-off homer against Philadelphia as the Jays have claimed two of their previous three American League Championship series since 1992.


The Indians are playing in their first ALCS since falling to the Red Sox in seven games in 2007. Cleveland owned a commanding 3-1 series lead over Boston before the Red Sox rallied for three consecutive wins and eventually claiming the World Series title. The Tribe is seeking its first pennant since 1997, while trying to capture its first world championship since 1948.

2016 Head-to-Head Meetings (Indians won 4-3, Under 4-3)


Rogers Center (Toronto)
June 30 – Indians 4, Blue Jays 1 (CLE -120, Under 8 ½)
July 1 – Indians 2, Blue Jays 1 – 19 innings (CLE +125, Under 8 ½)
July 2 – Blue Jays 9, Indians 6 (TOR -160, Over 9)
July 3 – Blue Jays 17, Indians 1 (TOR +105, Over 8)


Progressive Field (Cleveland)
August 19 – Indians 3, Blue Jays 2 (CLE -135, Under 8 ½)
August 20 – Blue Jays 6, Indians 5 (TOR +110, Over 9)
August 21 – Indians 3, Blue Jays 2 (CLE -160, Under 7 ½)


There were several classic finishes between these two teams in the regular season. Cleveland outlasted Toronto in 19 innings at Rogers Center on July 1 as the Tribe bullpen tossed 13 scoreless innings. That victory was the 14th in a row for Cleveland before Toronto snapped that hot streak the next day in a 9-6 triumph.


Cleveland beat Toronto twice in its final at-bat at Progressive Field in mid-August as the Indians scored two runs in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory in the series opener on a Tyler Naquin inside-the-park homer. In the Sunday matchup, the Indians scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning of another 3-2 triumph on a two-run homer by Ramirez.


Game 1 Starters


Toronto: Marco Estrada (10-9, 3.37 ERA)
Overall Team Record: 15-14
Overall (O/U) Record: 12-17
Road Record: 6-2
Road Team Record: 8-6
Road O/U Record: 6-8


Estrada dominated the Rangers in his only postseason start by tossing 8.1 innings and allowing four hits and one earned run in a 10-1 rout to open up the ALDS. The Toronto right-hander closed the season on fire by giving up a total of three earned runs in past four starts, while going at least seven innings three times. Estrada faced the Indians once this season at home, picking up a no-decision in a 9-6 win as he lasted five innings and gave up three earned runs. Toronto is 2-0 in Estrada’s two career starts against Cleveland, while the right-hander is pitching at Progressive Field for the first time in his career.


Cleveland: Corey Kluber (19-9, 3.04 ERA)
Overall Team Record: 20-12
Overall (O/U) Record: 16-14-2
Home Record: 10-5
Home Team Record: 11-5
Home O/U Record: 7-8-1


The 2014 Cy Young winner has been on fire since the end of July as the Indians have won 12 of his past 13 starts. Kluber dominated the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS by scattering three hits in seven scoreless innings of a 6-0 shutout for his first career playoff victory. The Cleveland ace had two dramatically different results when facing the Blue Jays this season. In the first matchup at Rogers Center, the Jays tagged Kluber for five earned runs in 3.1 innings in a 17-1 drubbing of Cleveland. Kluber turned it around in his next meeting with Toronto on August 21 by yielding only two earned runs in 6.2 innings of a 3-2 win. Since 2014, the Indians own a 2-3 record against the Jays when Kluber starts, including a pair of losses at Progressive Field.

 

[CNOTES]

Red Sox 2B Pedroia has knee surgery
October 13, 2016


BOSTON (AP) Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.


Boston said Wednesday the procedure, a partial medial meniscectomy and chondroplasty, was successful and he is expected to be ready for spring training.


Pedroia batted .318 this season - his highest since winning the AL MVP in 2008 - and added 15 homers and 74 RBIs. The Red Sox were swept in the AL Division Series by the Cleveland Indians.

 

[CNOTES]

A capsule look at the Dodgers-Cubs playoff series
October 14, 2016


A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs:


---


Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Saturday, at Chicago (8:08 p.m.); Game 2, Sunday, at Chicago (8:08 p.m.); Game 3, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Los Angeles (8:08 p.m.); Game 4, Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Los Angeles (8:08 p.m.); x-Game 5, Thursday, Oct. 20, at Los Angeles (8:08 p.m.); x-Game 6, Saturday, Oct. 22, at Chicago (TBA); x-Game 7, Sunday, Oct. 23, at Chicago (TBA). (All games on FOX or FS1).


x-if necessary.


---

Season Series: Cubs won 4-3.

---


Projected Lineup:


Dodgers: 2B Chase Utley (.252, 14 HRs, 52 RBIs) or Charlie Culberson (.284, 1, 7, in 34 games and 67 ABs), SS Corey Seager (.308, 26, 72), 3B Justin Turner (.275, 27, 90), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.285, 18, 90), RF Josh Reddick (.258, 2, 9 in 47 games with Dodgers; .296, 8, 28 with Oakland) or Yasiel Puig (.263, 11, 45 in 104 games), CF Joc Pederson (.246, 25, 68), C Yasmani Grandal (.228, 27, 72), LF Howie Kendrick (.255, 8, 40) or Andrew Toles (.314, 3, 16 in 47 games).


Cubs: CF Dexter Fowler (.276, 13, 48), 3B or LF Kris Bryant (.292, 39, 102, 121 runs, 176 hits), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.292, 32, 109, 170 hits), 2B or LF Ben Zobrist (.272, 18, 76), SS Addison Russell (.238, 21, 95), RF Jason Heyward (.230, 7, 49), 2B or 3B or SS Javier Baez (.273, 14, 59), C Miguel Montero (.216, 8, 33) or Willson Contreras (.282, 12, 35 in 76 games) or David Ross (.229, 10, 32).


---


Projected Rotation:


Dodgers: RH Kenta Maeda (16-11, 3.48 ERA, 179 Ks in 175 2/3 IP), LH Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA, 172 Ks in 149 IP), LH Rich Hill (3-2, 1.83, 34 1/3 IP with Dodgers; 9-3, 2.25, 76 IP in 14 starts with Oakland), LH Julio Urias (5-2, 3.39, 84 Ks in 77 IP).


Cubs: LH Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44, 197 Ks), RH Kyle Hendricks (16-8, MLB-best 2.13), RH Jake Arrieta (18-8, 3.10), RH John Lackey (11-8, 3.35).


---


Relievers:


Dodgers: RH Kenley Jansen (3-2, 1.83, career-high 47/53 saves), RH Pedro Baez (3-2, 3.04), RH Joe Blanton (7-2, 2.48), LH Luis Avilan (3-0, 3.20), RH Ross Stripling (5-9, 3.96), LH Grant Dayton (0-1, 2.05, 39 Ks, 26 1/3 IP in 25 games), RH Josh Fields (1-0, 4.63, 42 Ks, 35 IP in 37 games for Astros and Dodgers).


Cubs: LH Aroldis Chapman (4-1, 1.55, 36/39 saves, 90 Ks, 58 IP for Yankees and Cubs), RH Hector Rondon (2-3, 3.53, 18/23 saves), RH Pedro Strop (2-2, 2.85), RH Carl Edwards Jr. (0-1, 3.75, 2 saves), RH Justin Grimm (2-1, 4.10), LH Mike Montgomery (4-5, 2.52, 49 games, 7 starts for Mariners and Cubs), LH Travis Wood (4-0, 2.95).


---


Matchups:


One of these big-market teams is going to end a substantial drought. While the Cubs are looking for their first pennant since 1945 and World Series title since 1908, the Dodgers haven't been to the Fall Classic since winning their 1988 championship. ... Series features two of baseball's oldest and most popular ballparks in Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium. ... Chicago took three of four from Dodgers in a low-scoring series at Wrigley from May 30 to June 2, getting wins from Lester and Hendricks. Los Angeles won two of three meetings at home in late August, dropping the opener 6-4 in 10 innings before winning the final two games 3-2 and 1-0. ... Cubs avoided Kershaw and Maeda during the regular season. They also never faced Hill, who was acquired from Oakland on Aug. 1. ... Blanton had two wins out of the bullpen against Cubs this season. ... Second-year Chicago manager Joe Maddon was the skipper in Tampa Bay under front-office executive Andrew Friedman, now the Dodgers' president of baseball operations. ... Cubs wanted to make sure Hendricks was healthy before committing to him in Game 2. Hendricks left Game 2 of the Division Series against San Francisco when a comebacker went off his right forearm in the fourth inning. He had a bullpen session Thursday. Hendricks was 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 home games this year. ... Cubs led the majors with 103 wins in the regular season, 12 more than Los Angeles. ... Cubs have power arms on a staff that ranked third in majors with 1,441 strikeouts this season. ... Third in majors in runs (808) and second in on-base percentage (.343) during the season, Chicago had a tough time at the plate against Giants in the Division Series. Cubs hit .200 with a .247 on-base percentage, and a big chunk of their offense came from pitchers. Arrieta and Wood combined for two of Chicago's five homers, and those two along with Hendricks accounted for six of team's 17 RBIs. Rizzo, a contender for NL MVP, and Russell each went 1 for 15 in series. Baez, however, made one slick play after another at second base and delivered two of the biggest hits - an eighth-inning homer off Johnny Cueto for the lone run in Game 1 and the go-ahead single in the ninth inning of Game 4. ... Dodgers went 53-28 at home and 38-43 on the road this season. But they won two of three games at Washington in Division Series, including Game 5 clincher. Kershaw came out of bullpen to get final two outs for his first major league save, two days after throwing 110 pitches in Game 4 on short rest. So he almost surely won't start until Game 2 or Game 3 against Cubs. ... A tiring Jansen was pushed to career-high 51 pitches in Game 5, so his availability - and effectiveness - will be a question mark early in NLCS. ... Dodgers have struggled against left-handed pitching all year and figure to face Lester twice if series goes five games.


---


Big Picture:


Dodgers: With a $234 million opening day payroll, highest in the majors, Los Angeles (91-71) reached the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in Dave Roberts' first season as manager. The Dodgers have won four straight NL West titles, a first for the storied franchise, and surpassed 90 wins for the fourth season in a row. But they are still looking for their first trip to the World Series since Kirk Gibson, Orel Hershiser & Co. won it all as big underdogs in 1988. Los Angeles was beaten in the NLCS three times from 2008-13, then lost in the NLDS each of the past two years. They just squeezed by Washington, though, with a trio of one-run wins. ... Roberts and Tom Lasorda (1977) are the only rookie managers to lead the club to a division title. ... Gonzalez had 90 RBIs for the 10th consecutive season, becoming the only major leaguer to do so. ... Grandal, Seager, Justin Turner and Pederson gave the Dodgers four players with 25 or more home runs for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 1997. ... The Dodgers put 28 players on the disabled list this season, the most for any team since at least 1987. ... Roberts used a franchise record-tying 55 players, including 31 pitchers. ... Seager's 193 hits were the most by a big league rookie since 2001. ... Dodgers pitchers recorded 1,510 strikeouts, a major league record.


Cubs: Is this the year the Cubs at long last win the World Series? Favorites since opening day, Chicago (103-58) entered the playoffs with a large, excited fan base hoping against hope that the first championship in more than a century was finally around the corner. The Cubs jumped out to a 25-6 start on the way to a runaway title in the NL Central, then knocked off San Francisco in a thrilling NLDS. They rallied for four runs in the ninth inning of Game 4 to eliminate the pesky Giants and secure their second straight trip to the NLCS - a first for the franchise. Swept by the New York Mets last season, they're hoping for a better result this time. ... Bryant, a favorite for NL MVP after winning Rookie of the Year last season, was 6 for 16 with a homer against the Giants. During the regular season, he joined Rogers Hornsby (1929), Hack Wilson (1930) and Derrek Lee (2005) as the only players in franchise history with at least 120 runs, 35 doubles, 39 homers and 100 RBIs. ... Hendricks and Lester became the first teammates to run 1-2 in the majors in ERA since Houston pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte in 2005. Both figure to get strong consideration for the NL Cy Young Award, which Arrieta won last year. ... Lester matched his career high for wins. ... Cubs pitchers led the majors with a 3.15 ERA. They gave up the fewest runs (556) and hits (1,125).


---


Watch For:


- The Target. Well aware of the club's 108-year championship drought, the Cubs showed up for spring training bolstered by the additions of Heyward, Zobrist and Lackey, and with a neat new slogan coined by Maddon: ''Embrace the Target.'' The phrase went on a T-shirt, and the Cubs could not have worn it any better during the regular season. They won the division by 17 1/2 games and finished with eight more wins than any other team. They had the depth and versatility to withstand injuries and the poise to pull out 14 wins in their final at-bat. Then they added two more in the NLDS against playoff-tested San Francisco. But the Cubs are still chasing that target, and the postseason pressure remains.


- Ace In The Hole. As sensational as Kershaw has been throughout his career, he's struggled in the postseason. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP is 3-6 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 playoff games, 12 starts, over eight series since 2008. Kershaw again was far from his best in two NLDS starts against Washington, but he won the opener and saved the finale. Maybe coming through in that signature moment will finally get him going in October - if he's not worn out. The left-hander missed more than two months with a back injury before returning in September. While he was sidelined, the Dodgers surged into first place past slumping San Francisco.


- Top That. Lester will have a hard time even approaching his performance in the playoff opener, when he went toe-to-toe with Cueto in a 1-0 win. Lester dominated over eight innings and retired his final 13 batters. He held the Dodgers to one run in 15 innings over two starts this season. The lefty tossed a four-hitter in a June 1 win and went six scoreless innings but did not get a decision on Aug. 28.