So Much Ouch for the Dodgers, Japan Series Rosters, Options Timeline, and Other Bullets

RIP our furnace. Better now than the deepest part of winter, but it’s making for some cold nights until we get that baby fixed.

  • For the third year in a row, the most juggernaut-y team in MLB actually wound up winning the World Series. That most certainly does not always happen, which means people will be pondering whether there was something special about the Cubs, Astros, and Red Sox in 2016-18 that made them particularly inclined to dominate in both the regular season and postseason. And my answer will be … nah. You can get an edge in the postseason by having the best roster, by having hitters that hit dingers with some consistency, and by having a dominant bullpen, but for the most part, luck will still be a hugely determining factor in the ultimate outcome. The Astros and Cubs needed Game Sevens to win their series. Only the Red Sox really steamrolled their way through the playoffs.
  • As for the Dodgers … oof. That’s two straight World Series losses, and that cannot feel good. I remain deeply grateful that Kris Bryant’s throw did not sail into the stands in Game Seven. Imagine coming so close and not winning the championship. Now imagine getting to the World Series in back-to-back years and not winning it. Obviously it’s not the same as 108 years, but the Dodgers have now had lots and lots of great teams in the last three decades, have gotten close so many times, and still haven’t won one.
  • Cold, cold:
  • Again, that would sting:
  • (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • MLB has announced its roster for the Nov. 8-15 Japan Series, but there are no Cubs participating. Obviously it would be fun if some did, but the added rest is just fine, too. Some of the big names playing: Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Rhys Hoskins, JT Realmuto, Yadi Molina, and Kenta Maeda.
  • Man that’s freaking awesome:
  • https://www.instagram.com/p/BpfhVjEgcGF/?taken-by=spain2323

  • A note on options decisions this week, as it looks like the timeline has been moved up this year:
  • UPDATE: No they haven’t:
  • The Cubs officially have six free agents as of this morning.
  • From the wake for the Wrigleyville Taco Bell:
  • Fancy blenders, monitors, bikes, TV shows, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon today.
  • First place Bears:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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