HumpLinks: This Just in: Turner’s good

The heat is on. Game 1 goes to the Dodgers on a very well-pitched contest from both sides, one punctuated by 3 home runs. The last one, a 2-run homer by Justin Turner, who is having almost as good of an post-season as Jose Altuve, was the difference. He sure picked a big-time moment to make an introductory statement.

The slightly less big news of Game 1 was the fact that it was 103 degrees at first pitch. Luckily, it was only a 2 hour, 28 minute affair so the fans jammed into their seats, and players stuck down at the field level, got to get the hell outta there well before they dehydrated.

Wipe the sweat off of Day Twenty Three of Playoff-Links:

A Little Bit of Angels News

MLB Trade Rumors peeks into the LAA finances and comes to the some $$ conclusion that we do. Billy Eppler will have some money with which to work. They do go further into player analysis by looking at guys we had in uniform last season but that is not much news to we HH’ers. The meatier part is where they look out into the market and see what Eppler might be able to do with the money at his disposal. That should be sobering for some. For me, I am still whiny about how nobody tries to take measure of the payroll impact that will have to come from getting 21 more guys under contract. Even those most of those guys will be big name / big impact players, if we want them to be worthy role players they will need league average money. And that money needs to be added to that $142MM base where we all keep starting.........

October Baseball

Clayton Kershaw went 7 innings strong, giving up one run on only 3 hits, no walks and 11 K’s. And he WILL be back. At least once, if not twice (pretending there may be an epic emergency Game 7 appearance). The Astros need to figure him out at least for an inning or two if they wish to get over the top in this World Series. Dallas Keuchel wasn’t so bad himself. But where Kershaw saw a single pitch get smashed - a solo home run by Alex Bregman, Keuchel saw two. The first was a leadoff, first-pitch solo home run by Chris Taylor, and the difference maker was a 2-run jack by Justin Turner in the 6th. So 4 total runs scored, all on a total of 3 home runs. Yep, no marine layer. And advantage Dodgers, 3-1...........

Yep. Me too..........

This should grind the grits of anybody who hates the meme of “the human factor” in Baseball. The Dodgers pitchers will probably get more borderline ball/strike calls in their favor this Series. Just because that’s what has been happening to the Dodgers and Astros all season. It’s what umpires do. (By the way, notice how well the Angels did there. That certainly had to help this unit win as many games as it did in 2017.)..........

Yasiel Puig is trying to mimic his hero, Mike Trout. Step One: don’t swing at the first pitch..........

In the other dugout is Jose Altuve, who gets to bat with a smaller strike zone. Under normal conditions (NOT when facing Clayton Kershaw!), pitchers don’t get to throw strikes low to the guy, and he doesn’t get to take things up closer to the umpire’s eyeballs. But, at the end of the day it’s a problem for the pitchers more than it is for him, which is the article’s conclusion..........

Curtis Granderson is, once again, available. Just sayin’........

Maybe Granderson can get a package discount on some European tours, teaming up with Adrian Gonzalez..........And the Gonzalez thing has heads buzzing. I’m thinking that he sold his seats, and that is covering his family vacation.........

Regardless of what opinion you may hold concerning CJ Wilson, any pro athlete making this kind of tweet about another is worthy of props..........

Cameron Maybin: ex-Angel, ex-Brave, ex-Marlin, ex-Padre, ex-Tiger. That’s a lot of fans pulling for the Astros...........

Everywhere In Baseball

When you just set a new individual achievement record for strikeouts in a single post season, it’s wise to not be focused on individual achievement records.............

Once more we see that it ain’t a Great World Series unless it’s played no further than 2 times zones away from the center of the universe..........

“At your won risk” still seems to mean what it always has meant, at least at baseball games. A man beaned by a foul ball tried to change that and, as predicted here, he lost...........

Charlie Blackmon giving advice on how to hit Clayton Kershaw? It’s not as if the guy has a particularly strong resume against Dodgers pitching, once you get a large enough sample size..........

In media biz news, we are watching the ratings this World Series. Because it’s what we do. Especially as we contrast to the struggles of the NFL...........FanRag drifting towards video. Something FiveThirtyEight appears to be doing without as much fanfare.........

The Sporting News failed to read my inspired pieces on behalf of Mike Scioscia and Bud Black, and voted for Terry Francona and Craig Counsell instead for Managers of the Year. Yeah, poor Francona being stuck with all that talent. Again, within 2 time zones of the center of the universe..........

The Duffle Bag

Sure, I may be biased. Tough shit. It’s my daily work and I am declaring that the best moment in this video comes at the 1:27 mark.................Nice reddit find. The Fresno Grizzlies once predicted the 2017 Astros in the World Series..........This is pretty lame. California has one of the best craft beer scenes in America. We can do better than Texas..........So, who still needs evidence of how sloppy the people of ESPN can be?............Hot tip: order your Holiday storage bins ahead of time, and from Amazon. As in, NOW...........