Where does the 2015 World Series rank among Fall Classics?
Anthony Franco at MLB Trade Rumors considers Qualifying Offer decisions for free agent pitchers like Michael Wacha.
This is a situation where the player accepting a qualifying offer might work out well for everyone involved. It’d give Wacha a $5MM+ raise and allow him to spend multiple seasons with a team for the first time since he left the Cardinals in 2019. Kansas City could keep their rotation intact. If the Royals don’t make the QO, Wacha has a shot at three years and a guarantee above $40MM going into his age-33 campaign. That’d be less likely if he’s attached to draft compensation.
David Schoenfield at ESPN ranks the last 25 World Series.
11. 2015: Kansas City Royals over New York Mets, 4-1
The Royals proved their 2014 World Series appearance was no fluke, winning 95 games with a better team that included trade-deadline additions Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto. The Mets won the NL East behind a young, powerful rotation that featured Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom. It was a fun matchup of teams trying to avoid lengthy title droughts — 30 years for the Royals, 29 for the Mets.
Actual World Series: C+. It only went five games, but the Royals won the opener in 14 innings, won Game 5 with a three-run eighth inning and then won the clincher in 12 innings — after Mets manager Terry Collins’ ill-fated decision to leave in Harvey to start the ninth with a 2-0 lead.
Bobby Witt Jr. is a finalist for the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Player of the Year Award.
Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman considers whether the Royals should extend Vinnie Pasquantino.
Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 for the Dodgers.
How the World Series teams were built.
Is Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge a historic clash of titans?
The days off will help Freddie Freeman recover from his ankle injury.
Why does the World Series not start until Friday?
The NLCS was the most-watched LCS since 2019.
Pitcher Sean Manaea would love to return to the Mets.
MLB wants the Rays to stay near the Tampa area even as their stadium is unusable.
Who are the best free agent relievers?
The Cardinals add a hitting coach and add former Royals outfielder Jon Jay to the coaching staff.
The Dodgers supported female reporters in the locker room in the 70s, even as MLB banned it.
The WNBA player’s union opts out of the collective bargaining agreement.
Patrick Mahomes is having a down year, but is still giving the Chiefs what they need.
Companies are trying to create food out of thin air.
Law school application rates are up, possibly because the logic games on the entrance exam were eliminated.
No one knows how large pumpkins can get.
Your song of the day is Paul McCartney with Coming Up.