Baseball World Series 2025

[BurbankHibee]

We’ve not had mention of baseball on here since the Cubs won an extraordinary World Series back in 2016. Has it really been that long? Anyway, another fantastic World Series finished on Sunday with the Los Angeles Dodgers beating the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven in Toronto. This was another series that was phenomenal. There was a grueling game earlier that went for 18 innings. The Dodgers went to Toronto on Friday 3-2 down in a best of seven series and the Blue Jays looking like they could actually win it. But the baseball gods had other plans. So much went on in these two games it’s hard to explain but it’s what makes baseball one of the greatest sports. The Dodgers won game six forcing a game seven. Toronto hit three runs off Dodgers star pitcher Ohtani and held a lead for most of the game until the Dodgers drew level in the top of the ninth. Extra innings followed and the drama and tension was unbearable. The game could have been lost a few times but what a finish when the game was won in the eleventh inning. You could hear cheering from the houses round about and then the fireworks started which is funny because fireworks are banned in LA County. The Dodgers have now won two World Series titles in a row. They do have the highest payroll in baseball though.

 

[Bangkokhibby]

Maybe if it was ACTUALLY a world series there might be a bit more interest

 

[Alberta Hibee]

The jays had numerous chances when the bases were loaded , but never took the opportunity which was unfortunate.
You do get caught up on the game, I felt sorry and disappointed for them. Always next year for them.

 

[southfieldhibby]

I’ve got a basic understating of baseball and enjoy it, much like cricket, only different.
I saw the game when Ohtani went insane and kept an eye open for the other games after that. The highlights package on YouTube gives a good flavour for anyone with a vague interest in high level sport.
I suppose LA are like Man City just now, speculating to accumulate? I read that the $800M contract for Ohtani has effectively been paid off already due to merchandising, sponsorship and social interactions?

 

[BurbankHibee]

The jays had numerous chances when the bases were loaded , but never took the opportunity which was unfortunate.
You do get caught up on the game, I felt sorry and disappointed for them. Always next year for them.

The Dodgers got a lot of help in the series. Like in game six, bottom of the ninth Barger slammed the ball which looked like it was going to be a home run but the ball lodged under the wall in the outfield and the outfielder did not attempt play the ball and turning what would have been an inside the park two run home run into a ground rule double. That score would have tied the game with nobody out putting Toronto in a great position to win the series. Game seven, Dave Roberts took Edman out and put Rojas in because Rojas has a stronger throw. Bases loaded and Rojas awkwardly fields a ground ball and throws to home and it was such a close play but the runner was ruled out after much review and scrutiny. And then the game winning play, Kirk who is a monster hitter, hits into a game ending double play probably because his bat broke. That's how you know who the baseball gods favor.

I’ve got a basic understating of baseball and enjoy it, much like cricket, only different.
I saw the game when Ohtani went insane and kept an eye open for the other games after that. The highlights package on YouTube gives a good flavour for anyone with a vague interest in high level sport.
I suppose LA are like Man City just now, speculating to accumulate? I read that the $800M contract for Ohtani has effectively been paid off already due to merchandising, sponsorship and social interactions?

I follow the Angels more than the Dodgers because the Angels are the underdogs against these high value teams. I watched Ohtani for six seasons at the Angels and what a once in a generation player he is. Shirts with his name on it are always priced higher than any other player. I think he signed for the Angels because they were the only team that would let him bat and pitch. When he played at the Angels he brought in a lot of Asian punters to the games and they would buy Ohtani merchandise like it was going to run out!

 

[HaarlemShuffler]

I'm glad someone mentioned baseball as it has taken me till retirement to find the time to bone up on it enough to be able to follow it without overexaminimg what I see.

And this was the first world series I could stay up late enough to see the very end, knackered as I was by then!

That ball lodged at the bottom of the barrier was a new one on me though!

Looking forward to being able to see more next season, I especially like the pitchers (coming from a cricketing bowler's background) and I noticed that one tv station' commentator is very different from rhe other at explaining and analysing pitches

Who would those in the know say wss the best all-round station, Fox, CBS etc?

 

[BurbankHibee]

I'm glad someone mentioned baseball as it has taken me till retirement to find the time to bone up on it enough to be able to follow it without overexaminimg what I see.

To me there is a lot of over analysis in baseball now (and the NFL) which I tend to ignore because it takes something away from the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relies too much on the stats, leaving pitchers in too long to the point they mess up or taking them out too soon when the pitcher is in the zone. But the player stats are useful.

And this was the first world series I could stay up late enough to see the very end, knackered as I was by then!

18 innings was a struggle. You don't get that in the regular season though as the rules are slightly different.

That ball lodged at the bottom of the barrier was a new one on me though!

Me too, I was screaming for Dean to play the effing ball!! If he had, it would most likely have been game over. Great heads up play.

Looking forward to being able to see more next season, I especially like the pitchers (coming from a cricketing bowler's background) and I noticed that one tv station' commentator is very different from rhe other at explaining and analysing pitches

Who would those in the know say wss the best all-round station, Fox, CBS etc?

I don't like ESPN or Fox coverage. I subscribe to Angels and Dodgers broadcasting network. The Dodgers broadcasters I don't care for, they are rude to the other teams and they pick on certain players on the Dodger team. Vin Scully was the Dodger announcer for decades and he is sorely missed. The Angels have always had good commentary paired up with an ex pitcher called Mark Gubicza. They never run down the opposing team or any player that makes an error. If an error is made the Dodger commentators will say "that's terrible, what was he thinking?" where as Gubie will say "that was a tricky play (even if it wasn't) he just didn't quite manage to execute that time, he usually gets those ones. He will be mad at himself". Gubie being an ex pitcher focuses on pitching and describes the pitches being used. But he is so funny, he will predict something like "he's going to pitch fastball low and inside" but the actual pitch will be curve ball away outside. and he just laughs. It's a great game. there's nothing like it. I see the MLB schedules games in London and other countries.