October 29, 2021

1. The Padres win big, hiring Bob Melvin as manager

One of the best managers in baseball has decided to end a ten-plus-year reign with the Oakland A’s, and the Padres score an unexpected, desperately needed fix to right a ship that completely capsized this past season.

And while the Padres win, a tough year for A’s fans continues:

The most important analytic takeaway from the move, going forward? Keep an eye on the height boost the Padres dugout just received. It doesn’t get more significant than that, when it come to statistics.

2. Game 3 of the World Series is tonight in Atlanta, 8:09 ET

The series is tied, Braves pitching is short-staffed and really needing a win, and Atlanta hosts its first World Series game since 1999:

And the history fact of the day, it’ll be the sixth home ballpark hosting a World Series game for the Braves, the most all-time:

3. Tickets for the World Series are expensive

$1,000 for the standing-room-only options in Atlanta:

4. With the Dodgers and Red Sox (and Yankees) eliminated, ESPN has forgotten about baseball entirely

Says a lot, doesn’t it?

5. The secret weapon for the Braves this year was an ice cream machine

A pearl necklace. A historic trade deadline frenzy. And more important than anything else, soft-serve ice cream.

6. After his first full season, Ian Anderson takes the mound for a World Series start

He’s pitched in just 30 career games (excluding this year’s postseason), with his debut coming in 2020, and will be tasked with keeping things rolling for the Braves.

Here are his starts so far in the 2021 postseason:

And last year:

7. Adam Wainwright is going to Puerto Rico for Thanksgiving

8. A nice piece on what Ronald Acuña Jr. has been up to, as the Braves’ best player is sidelined amid a surprise World Series run

9. Braves mascot “Blooper” gets honored with a tattoo

Do these leg tattoo guys keep it shaved all the time, or what kind of grotesquery happens when that hair grows back over it?

10. And lastly, a contender (along with Lance Lynn) for the baseball Halloween costume of the year