Los Angeles, CA: I know it’s been covered here, but I can’t get over that fall classic. The Jays were on the brink of winning it so many times, but fell agonizingly short. And speaking of agonizing, after another flat performance by the New York Giants, especially by the defense, a house cleaning is inevitable. Brian Daboll doesn’t have any answers and now appears as clueless his predecessors. Back to the drawing board.
Dinger is Still Kinger
When the Yankees had the inning from hell in the World Series last year, it hurt. I couldn’t sleep for two nights. Well, what the fans of the Blue Jays just went through has to be a thousand times worse. The ball lodging in the wall, Will Smith’s foot coming off on back on the plate, IKF’s tiny lead, the double play to end Game 6, the semi collision that almost ended Game 7, the 18-inning Game 3, not being to push home guys on third with less than 2 outs in championship situations, etc. Just a long series of kicks to the jewels for Jays‘ fans.
The Jays came in as the team that played defense and put the ball in play. The Dodgers led the NL in homers. Toronto was trying to do it old school, while the Dodgers relied on their modern-day murderers’ row, highlighted by three MVPs pilfered from other teams. For much of the series it looked like the Jays were the better team.
But in key spots, the contact hitting team could not get runners in from third with two outs. In Game 6 in the 9th, Game 7 in the 9th and 11th, and numerous times in the 18-inning Game 3.
In the end it was the power of the Dodgers that won out. The Game 7 comeback was fueled by homers from Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas and then won by one from Will Smith.
Oof, let’s move on.
Dump Daboll (And Schoen)
The one massive positive of the Giants’ season is the play of young Jaxson Dart, despite a mediocre surrounding cast and a defense that frequently puts him in desperation mode on offense. Some might think his mentorship with Dart is enough of a reason to bring Daboll back. It ain’t. This is a dysfunctional team, and a return to relevance seems impossible under Schoen and Daboll. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the team plays well enough down the stretch to save their jobs.
Sure, they went into the game against the Niners with some injuries on D. But they were facing an offense that wasn’t exactly The Greatest Show on Turf. And San Fran’s offense had plenty of injuries too.
But what they do have something the Giants don’t – decent GD coaching staff. The Giants have enough talent to play better than this. The defense was supposed to be a strength, but they made Mac Jones look like Joe Montana. I see nothing but disfunction and a team expecting to lose.
Yesterday was the best day to fire Shane Bowen. Today is the second best. Daboll and Schoen should go at the end of the season.
But at least we have our QB. Let’s hope he doesn’t get Scattebo’ed taking a big hit trying to do too much.
That’s it for me. Angry Ward, who has been doing too much for this joint for a long time, will be here tomorrow.
