Blessings in the Boogie Down for Yanks, Dodgers & Mets Momentum Seesaws, Tropicana Field Damage Raises Questions about Rays' in 2024 | 34

Welcome back to TableSetters, your go-to podcast for all things baseball! Steve and Devin are back, diving deep into the week's news, with the Championship Series in progress. The Yankees' 2-0 lead over the Guardians is a big topic of conversation as the series heads to Cleveland, with the team aiming for their first World Series appearance in 15 years. We’ll discuss Game 2, where Gerrit Cole struggled, lasting just 4.1 innings and allowing two runs, while an early error by Rocchio allowed the Yankees to get on the board first. Aaron Judge made headlines with his first postseason homer, and the Yankees' bullpen stepped up, delivering 4.2 strong innings and conceding only one run. We’ll also touch on the Guardians' pitching woes, with Tanner Bibee getting pulled after just 1.1 innings and a heavy reliance on their bullpen. Despite some poor baserunning by the Yankees, it didn't impact the outcome. Finally, we’ll preview Game 3, featuring Clarke Schmidt against Matthew Boyd.

We also dive deep into the Mets and Dodgers matchup, which has seen the Dodgers take a 2-1 lead after their win tonight. Following a tough 9-0 loss in Game 1, the Mets bounced back in Game 2 with Francisco Lindor leading off with a homer. Sean Manaea pitched well, going five innings and allowing two runs, although he showed more promise than his stat line suggests. Mark Vientos made a statement after the Dodgers intentionally walked Lindor, hitting a grand slam and boosting his postseason stats to .378 with three homers and 11 RBIs in just nine games. We’ll also highlight Edwin Diaz's typical flair as he faced early trouble but struck out the side to close the game. Looking ahead, we’ll preview Game 4, and discuss the potential matchup of Yamamoto versus Quintana. Plus, we’ll touch on Brandon Nimmo's determination to play through plantar fasciitis.

Buckle up as we’ll dive into the aftermath of the recent hurricane that has left the Rays’ current stadium in disrepair. With repair costs potentially reaching hundreds of millions, we’ll explore whether St. Petersburg will find it worthwhile to invest in repairs, especially with the team set to move to a new stadium in 2028. We’ll discuss the implications of this situation on the Rays’ temporary home, considering options like local minor league stadiums and the logistical challenges involved. Additionally, we’ll touch on the financial ramifications, including potential drops in revenue and staffing issues. Finally, we’ll examine whether Major League Baseball might step in to offer financial support in this unprecedented scenario.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, folks. We’ll highlight standout performances from the Arizona Fall League. We’ll start with Andrew Painter, who is making his first appearance since Tommy John surgery, showcasing impressive velocity that could see him joining the Phillies’ rotation in 2025. Colt Emerson has kicked off the season with a remarkable performance, batting .458 with four doubles, all at just 19 years old. We’ll also discuss Zyhir Hope, who hit a massive 470-foot homer, showing flashes of his potential after a challenging year due to injury. Lastly, we’ll touch on Xavier Isaac, already a top 100 prospect, who is off to a strong start with a .286 average and two homers in just four games, demonstrating the promise of future power at the big league level. We get into so much more, so dive in and give us your feedback!

We will also explore the surprising snub of Francisco Lindor for a Gold Glove nomination this year. The three finalists in the National League are Dansby Swanson, Ezequiel Tovar, and Masyn Winn, with standout Outs Above Average (OAA) numbers: Swanson leads with 18, followed closely by Lindor with 16 and Tovar with 15, while Winn trails with just 3. Lindor reflected on the snub, acknowledging other players had better defensive seasons but expressing his focus on winning a World Series. We’ll also discuss Juan Soto's nomination despite a -4 OAA and point out that Lindor ranked fifth among all players in OAA. For added context, Masyn Winn leads all shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) with 14, compared to Lindor's 2. It raises interesting questions about how defensive metrics are valued in award considerations.

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So grab your popcorn and settle in as we ignite the conversation only on TableSetters, where every inning brings a new story, and every pitch sets the stage for baseball's greatest moments. Let's play ball!