Blue Jays-Dodgers World Series Game 7 Thread: Max Scherzer vs Shohei Ohtani

[Brownie19]

30 minutes ago, Fastball21 said:

With due respect I'm going to disagree with you, adding on runs is one thing but as a coach are you going to handicap your players in the biggest game in the biggest moment by telling the winning run on third to hug the base? I very much doubt it, as I said I don't mind losing but you just can't make a call like that, you just can't, the winning run is on third the game is tied, you have take a shot, if you get doubled off it's still tied and you live to fight again, not being combative but I think you get that, right? 

I don't think anyone knows enough about the direction given to form any firm opinion. IKF said he was told to shorten up his lead a bit to avoid getting doubled off.  We don't know if that meant reduce it by 4 steps or half a step.  We don't know if he was told not to take a secondary lead or not.  Taking a secondary lead certainly increases the possibility of getting doubled off as you're momentum is taking you home and your natural reaction on any ball hit will be to GO (see Barger, Addison in case you forget what this looks like).  Perhaps everything he was told was 100% correct, but he froze up in the moment.  WHO KNOWS.  You don't and I don't.

People are pulling up hit charts and all this crap like the only possibility was a liner to 3rd for a DP.  But you have to consider the likelihood that he takes a false step or 2 on a line drive and the further off the bag you are, the higher the possibility that you get doubled off on a liner to SS, or back to the pitcher.  There are all kinds of possibilities.  

The chances of him taking an extra half step primary or secondary lead and it being the difference between winning and losing the World Series is EXTREMELY low.

If you need to blame 1 moment, or blame a couple of inches on a leadoff to make yourself feel better - then do that.  But it's silly and unnecessary.

[hanton]

3 minutes ago, bronson44 said:

The other runners better have been close. Their run means nothing so them getting doubled off would be egregious. You take more of a gamble with the runner at third. Not even a gamble, just get as far off as Muncy.

haha right, piling on IKF is a bit ridiculous though - he is what he is, an average player at best.  Hoffman gets paid specifically to close out games and he couldn't 

[leaffie]

There are numerous degrees of grief and losing that series has triggered them all in different ways for different fans.  I can think of numerous stupid things that caused it,  but time for me to look back at the incredible run that our Jays were on.

I am old and if it takes  another 30 years, I wont  see it.  But numerous new fans have fallen in love with the Jays.  Rogers has stepped up and seen what money and a good team can do for their ratings.  Records were set by the most unlikely players.  The baseball was terrific and the Jays didn't job the system with deferred salary to achieve their win.

Most of the experts have weighed in with “the best world series ever” and our team should have won.  We were the best and unfortunately this time it didnt happen.

But think of how as fans we felt last off season coming from last place to this one, filled with excitement and surety that 2026 will be our year.  Enjoy all the good things that baseball brings.

 

 

[ChrisS]

Varsho rarely hits oppo anyway.  IKFs lead should have been further.  Even 1 ft further and we would have won.

So many little things went in the Dodgers favour.  Still processing all this.

[SeranthonySantander]

1 minute ago, leaffie said:

There are numerous degrees of grief and losing that series has triggered them all in different ways for different fans.  I can think of numerous stupid things that caused it,  but time for me to look back at the incredible run that our Jays were on.

I am old and if it takes  another 30 years, I wont  see it.  But numerous new fans have fallen in love with the Jays.  Rogers has stepped up and seen what money and a good team can do for their ratings.  Records were set by the most unlikely players.  The baseball was terrific and the Jays didn't job the system with deferred salary to achieve their win.

Most of the experts have weighed in with “the best world series ever” and our team should have won.  We were the best and unfortunately this time it didnt happen.

But think of how as fans we felt last off season coming from last place to this one, filled with excitement and surety that 2026 will be our year.  Enjoy all the good things that baseball brings.

 

 

I think the bigger loss is that baseball is over.  If the season started tomorrow we have optimism again.  And as you can see from dodger fans after last year, they forget the championship pretty quickly and everyone moves on to the next season with the same expectations.

[ChrisS]

5 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

The chances of him taking an extra half step primary or secondary lead and it being the difference between winning and losing the World Series is EXTREMELY low.  

If you need to blame 1 moment, or blame a couple of inches on a leadoff to make yourself feel better - then do that.  But it's silly and unnecessary.

I dont blame IKF.  Sports and life are this way sometimes.  But the fact remains.. If he is 12 inches closer to home we win it.

[glory]

15 minutes ago, hanton said:

It's worth noting that all 3 runners were close to the bag, it might have been discussed before game 7

the rojas home run off Hoffman is where we lost this, this would be like Gimenez off Sasaki

Yeah all the other stuff is just typical baseball luck. Giving up a home run to LA’s version of IKF though is inexcusable and avoidable. That was the game right there. The Jays unfortunately had a closer who gave up home runs like Oprah and that’s who they lived and eventually died with. 

[Brownie19]

4 minutes ago, glory said:

Yeah all the other stuff is just typical baseball luck. Giving up a home run to LA’s version of IKF though is inexcusable and avoidable. That was the game right there. The Jays unfortunately had a closer who gave up home runs like Oprah and that’s who they lived and eventually died with. 

You spelt improbable wrong.  That's why baseball is such an incredible game - because sometimes the improbable happens.

[ComeTogether]

5 minutes ago, ChrisS said:

Varsho rarely hits oppo anyway.  IKFs lead should have been further.  Even 1 ft further and we would have won.

So many little things went in the Dodgers favour.  Still processing all this.

For those that play the game, wouldn't going head first/arms out diving be faster? Why slide into home at all?  

It not just one play here or there. Too many plays Jays didn't convert/ dodgers made the save. 

Broken bat on Kirk to end the game in DP sums.it up. First time in 77 yrs that happened in WS final. 

[SeranthonySantander]

3 minutes ago, ComeTogether said:

For those that play the game, wouldn't going head first/arms out diving be faster? Why slide into home at all?  

It not just one play here or there. Too many plays Jays didn't convert/ dodgers made the save. 

Broken bat on Kirk to end the game in DP sums.it up. First time in 77 yrs that happened in WS final. 

Sliding head first and foot first is generally slower.  Stat cast did a thing on it but it’s still debatable.  Running through, you gotta adjust your step to hit the bag but it’s not going to slow you down much.

 

Usually getting the runner at home on an infield ground ball doesn’t happen.  It wasn’t a slow roller.  So I don’t think we can blame IKF

[bronson44]

There are many plays that really hurt but that feels like the only one that could have been controlled better. The coaches share some blame if they dictated that positioning but a slightly better lead and a better attempt at home could have been the difference. Again, do you ever slide feet first into first? Run through it or dive head first (even though that's also not ideal).

I just got so pumped for a sec when they showed his foot came off. I thought we might win it on a replay. Then I saw he brought it back down at the last moment. A few fractions of a second would have made all the difference if he got in before his foot came back down.

 

[bronson44]

I also thought we might have won it on the Ernie flyball. It looked like a lazy pop up off the bat but then Kike started sprinting back in a panic and I got excited. Of course Pages came out of nowhere to grab it but by Kike's dive I don't think he would have held onto that ball. s*** stings. I felt it in those 2 plays. What it would have felt like.

[Jonn]

11 minutes ago, bronson44 said:

I also thought we might have won it on the Ernie flyball. It looked like a lazy pop up off the bat but then Kike started sprinting back in a panic and I got excited. Of course Pages came out of nowhere to grab it but by Kike's dive I don't think he would have held onto that ball. s*** stings. I felt it in those 2 plays. What it would have felt like.

Everyone was confused why they were playing so shallow to begin with. They clearly had to come in with less than 2 outs. But once they had 2 outs they should have returned to normal defense. It’s almost like they forgot and Pages just bailed everyone out.

[Stangstag]

4 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Everyone was confused why they were playing so shallow to begin with. They clearly had to come in with less than 2 outs. But once they had 2 outs they should have returned to normal defense. It’s almost like they forgot and Pages just bailed everyone out.

I think they just felt Ernie was more likely to hit it shallow than deep, and that’s probably a good call.

[Laika]

18 minutes ago, bronson44 said:

I also thought we might have won it on the Ernie flyball. It looked like a lazy pop up off the bat but then Kike started sprinting back in a panic and I got excited. Of course Pages came out of nowhere to grab it but by Kike's dive I don't think he would have held onto that ball. s*** stings. I felt it in those 2 plays. What it would have felt like.

Man there were like, 10 plays

The 18 inning game - too many chances to end that game to even list. 

Game 6 - runners 2nd and 3rd with nobody out in the ninth. Expectation is 2 runs to tie. No runs. Why and how did Kike Hernandez even get to that ball? 

Game 6 - Barger's lodged ball was annoying to me mostly because that swing and contact is so close to being a HR swing. 

Game 7: 

• Kirk just needs a flyball to tie the game. Double play, WS over.
• Varsho just needs a flyball to win the game. Groundball. 
• IKF just needs a better lead or slide. No.
• Gimenez lineout slash that would have made it 5-2
• Vlad 380 foot flyout bottom 9 that would have won the WS. 101 mph with that launch angle is a homer 70% of the time. 
• Ernie gapper somehow run down by Pages. 
• Jays relievers hang offspeed pitches horribly in the 8th, 9th, and 11th and the Dodgers never miss. 

WHY DIDN'T YESAVAGE JUST FINISH THIS GAME!?

[Hipfan]

This was such a brutal game and it's hard to comprehend that they lost; so many opportunities to win the series those final 2 games, and they were the better team throughout the WS, however, the Dodgers made just enough plays at the right time to win it. Gotta give them the respect for that, however, it sure does feel like the Jays stole the loss from the jaws of victory, and that stings.

I'm slowly getting optimistic for next year; with the right moves the Jays (assuming guys like Clement, Barger and Kirk play to their abilities) will be right back in the thick of things and could totally win it all. Feels like it's been a long time since that was a possibility. GO JAYS!!!!

[Brownie19]

9 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

I think they just felt Ernie was more likely to hit it shallow than deep, and that’s probably a good call.

This - 100%.  They weren't going to be beat on a shallow liner.  They wanted to make Ernie beat them deep, which he almost did.

[hanton]

On the Kirk dp,,,,that was a great pitch by Yamamoto - I think it's still a dp even if Kirk doesn't break his bat.

[hanton]

Roberts pulled a JS by putting Pages in CF (Edman and his wonky ankle does not make that catch) - outstanding catch

[Terminator]

[ComeTogether]

Spent a fortune attending the game and sending my parents there from the west coast. 

What an amazing game. Memories to last a lifetime. Gut renching ending.  But totally worth it for us. 

Lost my voice after the Bo HR.  Still haven't recovered it yet.

If we truly believe this wasn't a fluke/Cinderella run, then it is realistic they have a legit chance to return to the WS again.  Dodgers are favorites again for next year.  

[Laika]

Most of what the 2025 Blue Jays did was not a fluke, but they went from like 99% WS odds in the 9th inning to maybe 5% odds for 2026

I am not sure I can even watch next year

I might have to just delete this account and find new hobbies. Baseball is ruined. 

[Fastball21]

5 minutes ago, Laika said:

Most of what the 2025 Blue Jays did was not a fluke, but they went from like 99% WS odds in the 9th inning to maybe 5% odds for 2026

I am not sure I can even watch next year

I might have to just delete this account and find new hobbies. Baseball is ruined. 

Come on now it's not that bad, yes they should have won, yes a major serious screwed up decision played a key roll in them losing but as pissed as I am I'm not giving up, I won't lose any sleep and it was an awesome year, can't wait for next year, hang in there  friend, I think we are on the brink of something great here. 

[bronson44]

7 minutes ago, Fastball21 said:

Come on now it's not that bad, yes they should have won, yes a major serious screwed up decision played a key roll in them losing but as pissed as I am I'm not giving up, I won't lose any sleep and it was an awesome year, can't wait for next year, hang in there  friend, I think we are on the brink of something great here. 

I'm sorry but I don't think this is a perennial thing. We waited 32 years for things to break our way and get here. Sorry to the young fans but you likely have years of torment ahead trying to chase this again.

[Rynodb1]

2 hours ago, ChrisS said:

I dont blame IKF.  Sports and life are this way sometimes.  But the fact remains.. If he is 12 inches closer to home we win it.

I think the lead can be explained, as it has, but sliding feet first to home on a force play is the part that bothered me the most. Its the slowest way to get there. Head first, or running through the bag since its a force out, and I think he's safe. 

But I've also reached the point of looking back on this season to appreciate how incredibly fun it was. My kids have always liked the Blue Jays, but this year made them true FANS of the team. 

Seeing the interviews post game, and seeing how sad everybody was. It wasn't so much that they lost, it was the fact that THIS team is gone. Players will come and go but they all seemed to really appreciate the run they had together. 

[Omar]

We were the better team in that series....just not when it really counted. And that's why it stings. 

 

[CJ-Freeway]

14 minutes ago, bronson44 said:

I'm sorry but I don't think this is a perennial thing. We waited 32 years for things to break our way and get here. Sorry to the young fans but you likely have years of torment ahead trying to chase this again.

I agree... we're not the Yankees & Dodgers who land top FA's almost every year and are top WS contenders also almost every year... I see years of torment ahead, as you mentioned.🥲

[Laika]

22 minutes ago, Fastball21 said:

Come on now it's not that bad, yes they should have won, yes a major serious screwed up decision played a key roll in them losing but as pissed as I am I'm not giving up, I won't lose any sleep and it was an awesome year, can't wait for next year, hang in there  friend, I think we are on the brink of something great here. 

I am jealous of your optimism, but I doubt it and history/probabilities would say otherwise 

They have a good enough core / payroll / organization now to bump up their WS odds for next year, but we are still talking about maybe a 5% to 10% chance of winning or getting back to the World Series, respectively 

There is also a real chance that this was a last gasp - the final exertion of effort and luck for the extended cycle of attention and talent and organizational momentum that started in 2015 and just finally died forever all because IKF is a fraud 

[abola2121]

Jeez, some of you guys should just call a suicide hotline already.

It's not the end of the world, this team contributed to record postseason viewership and have put themselves on the map as a top-tier organization. We're in a better position now going forward than we've ever been in decades.

[SeranthonySantander]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

Most of what the 2025 Blue Jays did was not a fluke, but they went from like 99% WS odds in the 9th inning to maybe 5% odds for 2026

I am not sure I can even watch next year

I might have to just delete this account and find new hobbies. Baseball is ruined. 

You remember in happy Gilmore, shooter is clearly the better player but Gilmore makes a crazy fluke put to win the tournament?

well that’s what it feels like, Caleb Joseph summed it up with his “I don’t give it a s***, the better team didn’t win”

Then Shooter grabs the jacket and runs only to get tackled.

That is what it felt like