NEWSLETTER
Could one really, really bad World Series start cost you significantly in free agency? I tend to doubt it, especially when you’d otherwise been really good in two other postseason starts.
But that’s going to be the question folks ask after Yu Darvish got absolutely bombed out last night by the Astros in Game Three of the World Series. He didn’t only fail to go two innings and didn’t only give up four runs, but he couldn’t miss any bats and was absolutely getting smoked.
You don’t see too many innings look like this from a terrible starter in the regular season, much less from a great starter in the World Series:
That 2/3 of an inning by Darvish is one of the worst contact innings in recent memory. pic.twitter.com/meNymbSqyv
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 28, 2017
The story his camp will spin is that he was just a little worn down, and a great offense barreled some balls. They’ll point to his other two postseason starts, and the good number from his regular season. But what was already going to be an interesting free agency got a little more interesting. The Cubs figure to at least keep tabs on Darvish.
Those four runs off Darvish were all the Astros needed to beat the Dodgers, ultimately winning 5-3. They now lead the series 2-1, and Alex Wood faces Charlie Morton tonight in Game Four in Houston.
There was an ugly incident after Yuli Gurriel hit a rocket homer off Darvish to open the scoring in the second inning:
Gurriel mocking Darvish?? pic.twitter.com/DsHz12HT3O
— You (@CoIIier) October 28, 2017
Gurriel, who apologized after the game, appeared to make a slanted eye motion and refer to a “Chinito,” which roughly translates to “little Chinese boy.” (Dodgers.com) It’s possible he could face discipline in this World Series.
Darvish’s statement after the game on the incident, especially when you consider the circumstances, was jaw-droppingly wonderful:
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) October 28, 2017
That’s a big dude right there. Maybe the outing won’t cost him in free agency after all.
