And so the World Series celebration turned into a Superspreader event - the most 2020 outcome of this season ever. MLB has launched a full investigation into Hamish Justin Turner. I honestly didn't know MLB could do something like that without Rat F. Mike Fiers talking to The Athletic first. The Dodgers taking out the Rays means that, for the first time since 2004, the team that knocked the Astros out of the playoffs did not go on to win the World Series.
World Series Titles Since Expansion (1993):
Los Angeles: 1
Houston: 1
Arlington/Seattle/Oakland: 0
*With Kevin Cash's Rays losing, the total number of World Series rings by Members of the 2010 Houston Astros remains at six: Lance Berkman (2011), Geoff Blum (2005), Pedro Feliz/J.A. Happ, Brett Myers (2008), and Hunter Pence (2012 and 2014).
*With the end of the World Series, Wednesday was File For Free Agency Day. George Springer, Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick, and Brad Peacock officially filed. They can sign with a team as soon as Sunday.
*The Qualifying Offer deadline is Sunday, at 1yr/$18.9m. You can pretty much guarantee that Springer and Brantley will get a QO. The Astros just have to decide whether to exercise the 2021 club option (for $2m) on Brooks Raley.
*McTaggart: The Astros 2020 Off-Season FAQ.
October 28: Players can file for free agency / A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow reinstated by MLB.
November 1: Deadline to extend a Qualifying Offer to free agents / Free Agency begins at 4:01pm Central.
November 2: Finalists for major MLB awards announced
November 3: Gold Glove winners announced
November 9: Rookies of the Year announced
November 10: Managers of the Year announced
November 11: Cys Young winners announced / Deadline to accept or reject Qualifying Offer
November 12: MVPs announced
November 16: 2021 Hall of Fame ballot announced
November 20: Deadline to add Rule 5-eligible players to the 40-Man Roster.
December 2: Deadline to tender a contract to arbitration-eligible players.
December 6-10: Winter Meetings in Dallas (or, more likely, Zoom)
December 10: Rule 5 Draft
January 15: Deadline for teams/players to exchange arbitration figures / International Signing Period begins
February 27: Astros @ Nationals in first Spring Training game.
*Clayton Kershaw, postseason career: 189IP, 153H/88ER, 207K:50BB. 4.19 ERA / 1.07 WHIP.
Justin Verlander: postseason career 187.2IP, 140H/71ER, 205K:60BB, 3.40 ERA / 1.07 WHIP.
Clayton Kershaw, World Series: 3-2, 38.1IP, 30H/19ER, 41K:11BB, 4.46 ERA / 1.07 WHIP.
Justin Verlander, World Series: 0-6, 38IP, 35H/24ER, 39K:14BB, 5.68 ERA / 1.29 WHIP
To be fair, Verlander with the Astros in the World Series: 23IP, 17H/12ER, 23K:8BB, 4.70 ERA / 1.09 WHIP.
*Former Astros Great Hector Rondon's option was declined by Arizona.
*Mark Berman: Houston is trying to become a 2026 World Cup site.
*ESPN/FiveThirtyEight: Tracking political donations of wealthy sports owners.
*Texas Monthly: The Ballad of Billie Joe Shaver.
*You like Madlib headlines? Here's one: Neo-Nazi Ex-Marine and Porn Actor Arrested in Conspiracy to Hide Weapons from Government.
*Vice: When the Italian mafia moved into Aberdeen, Scotland.
*Jezebel: 10 Scary Stories to ensure you never sleep again.
*A Musical Selection:
