https://nypost.com/2020/11/24/yankees-would-vanish-rays-gap-with-blake-snell-blockbuster/

Thx for the link! My fav comment (of many good ones) from that article ... Maybe you didn’t watch much of this series, but in the second game manager Kevin Cash did keep Blake Snell in after 4 2/3 no hit ball with two walks and 9 strikeouts. The next four batters reached base, two of them scoring, and who knows how many others would have crossed home if Nick Anderson didn’t come in and immediately strike out Justin Turner. If you want a manager to learn from the earlier mistake you cannot criticize him for making the opposite action.

Snell's somewhat resurgent season was built at least partly on the quick hook. It seemed to me that's what led to Cash's decision. Craig Edwards has evidence, two pitches, that indicate there was evidence.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-defense-of-kevin-cash-pulling-blake-snell-in-the-world-series/

Joel Sherman today:

For the Dodgers the symbols of their last two championships are Kirk Gibson limping around the bases and Kevin Cash walking out of a dugout.

https://nypost.com/2020/10/28/kevin-cashs-mind-boggling-blake-snell-move-gave-dodgers-title/

The Covid Dreams are playing right through the World Series. One more out by Snell would have had a big impact on the top and bottom of the standings.

Yesterday's Top Performers

Pitchers:

Blake Snell* (TBR): 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 9 K, 57 GmSc

Aaron Loup (TBR): 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 55 GmSc

* - pictured above

Snell flopped, Brosseau flopped, Castillo flopped... pressure's on.

The pressure is still on the Astros, right?

Sure, sure, but if perchance they lose today...

Here's J.P. Been at BP:

One Big Thing

Both Snell and Valdez threw the ball well in their most recent matchup. Snell tossed five one-run innings, while Valdez gave up two runs in six frames. There were small warts for each: Snell only struck out two, and Valdez walked four. Overall, though, these lefties should take the mound on Friday with plenty of confidence, given their successes in this series and throughout the postseason.

It’s impossible to ignore, however, that the Rays have been significantly better against lefties in 2020. That offensive gap is driven by lefty-mashers like Michael Brosseau. The utility man hit .333/.383/.738 against southpaws in the regular season and already has a home run in the playoffs. Brosseau went 0-for-3 with a HBP in his first go-round against Valdez (that hit-by-pitch was by Blake Taylor). Still, he’ll be one of the primary threats for Tampa on Friday.

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/62582/rays-astros-snell-valdez-alcs-game-6-mlb-playoff-prospectus/

Not in the photo: Shane Bieber.

Yesterday's Top Performers

Pitchers:

Lucas Giolito* (CHW): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 76 GmSc

Blake Snell* (TBR): 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 74 GmSc

Gerrit Cole (NYY): 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 13 K, 70 GmSc

Kenta Maeda (MIN): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 65 GmSc

* - pictured above

The most lopsided matchup today would seem to be Blake Snell vs. Robbie Ray in the Thunderless Dome.

The Rays were 20-9 at home. The Blue Jays were 15-19 out of the cozy confines of their home away from home.

But the biggest edge would seem to be the starting pitchers. Robbie Ray?

That's what I'm seeing. Although the starting lineup isn't confirmed.

The fact that the Blue Jays are still playing is one of the most delightful outcomes of the expanded playoffs.

One of the few, I should say. I really, really hope Manfred and the owners don't make this a thing. It's almost inevitable that I will be disappointed. 

Will B-R keep its OOTP going after the real boys take the field (if they do)?

Through July 12, Snell has a 3.21 ERA and eight wins in 17 starts. In 106.2 IP he's fanned 140. But the Rays are only 49-48, trailing the Yankees by 11 games.