The Weekly Rundown: 9/29/24 - 10/5/24
The start of the 2024 postseason, RIP Pete Rose, and much more.
Good morning and happy Sunday!
The 2024 MLB postseason is in full swing. We were treated to a thrilling Wild Card Series and all four Division Series Game 1s yesterday didn’t disappoint.
Once again, my playoff predictions bracket is already busted thanks to the Astos falling to the Tigers and the Royals sweeping the Orioles. Fortunately, it wasn’t a complete disaster as I took the Mets to beat the Brewers and the Padres to take down the Braves.
Here’s a look at the updated bracket:
We’ll have an in-depth recap of each playoff game below, plus other top stories from the week in baseball. First, please consider subscribing to the newsletter (FREE) below. You’ll get these weekly rundowns delivered to your email every Sunday, which is great for those who want to stay up to date on all things MLB.
Thanks! Now grab your Sunday morning coffee and let’s jump in…
RIP Pete Rose
Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader with 4,256, died Monday at the age of 83. The Cincinnati Reds legend passed away at home with what a coroner determined was cardiovascular disease.
Rose was a Rookie of the Year, 17-time All-Star, MVP, two-time Gold Glover, three-time World Series champion, World Series MVP, and three-time batting champion during his 24-year career with the Reds, Phillies, and Expos.
In 1989 while managing the Reds, Rose was permanently banned from baseball for gambling on games during his time with Cincinnati. The most damning allegations were that he bet against his own team. As a result, he was deemed “permanently ineligible” to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rose’s Hall of Fame ineligibility remains a contentious topic to this day. He has since admitted to betting on baseball and the Reds, but keeping him out of Cooperstown seems hypocritical today with MLB’s partnerships with sportsbooks. Personally, I’d like to see Rose reinstated for induction posthumously, and we should put Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in too while we’re at it.
Bloom to Lead Cardinals Front Office After 2025
The Cardinals are shifting their focus to player development, which has been a problem for the organization in recent years. Former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who was hired as an advisor after leaving Boston, will now lead the player development department and replace the retiring John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations in 2026.
“Our number one priority is to build up our player development system, so having Chaim in that role is really critical,” chairman BIll DeWitt Jr. said. “Meanwhile, Mo’s done an excellent job over many years and his record speaks for itself. … I think we have the best of all worlds here. [Mozeliak] is going to see his tenure through and Chaim is going to jump in and try to improve what we’ve done on player development. We’re really well set this year and beyond.”
Bloom received no shortage of criticism for his moves during his Red Sox tenure, but there’s no denying he left Boston’s prospect pipeline in great shape. The Red Sox arguably have a top-five farm system in MLB, and their top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, and Kristian Campbell were drafted during the Bloom era.
Giants Fire Farhan Zaidi, Hire Buster Posey
After missing the postseason, the Giants announced they parted ways with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and replaced him with franchise legend Buster Posey.
“We have made the decision to part ways with Farhan Zaidi,” Giants chairman Greg Johnson said in a statement on Monday. “We appreciate Farhan’s commitment to the organization and his passion for making an impact in our community during his six years with the Giants. Ultimately, the results have not been what we had hoped, and while that responsibility is shared by all of us, we have decided that a change is necessary. While these decisions are not easy, we believe it is time for new leadership to elevate our team so we can consistently contend for championships. I wish Farhan and his family nothing but the best moving forward.
“As we look ahead, I’m excited to share that Buster Posey will now take on a greater role as the new President of Baseball Operations. We are looking for someone who can define, direct and lead this franchise’s baseball philosophy and we feel that Buster is the perfect fit. Buster has the demeanor, intelligence and drive to do this job, and we are confident that he and Bob Melvin will work together to bring back winning baseball to San Francisco.”
Posey joined the Giants ownership group in 2022, one year after retiring from his playing career. The three-time World Series champion and 2012 MVP will now serve as the primary decision-maker in San Francisco’s front office.
Twins GM Steps Down
Minnesota’s general manager Thad Levine stepped down on Friday, the team announced:
“After eight seasons of significant contributions and leadership, Thad Levine will depart the Minnesota Twins organization to pursue new challenges and opportunities, both inside and outside of baseball.”
Levine led the Twins to three division titles and four playoff appearances between 2017-23. Minnesota just missed the postseason this year after posting a 13-27 record over the final 40 games of the season.
Big-league clubs looking for front-office leaders should have Levine at or near the top of their list of candidates.
D’backs Owner Rips Jordan Montgomery
After barely missing out on the playoffs, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick let loose on the decision to sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery during the offseason. Kendrick took the blame for signing Montgomery, who was awful in 2024, to a $25 million contract.
“If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re talking to the guy that should be blamed,” Kendrick said on The Burns & Gambo Show. “Because I brought it to (the front office’s) attention. I pushed for it. They agreed to it. It wasn’t in our game plan. … And looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It’s our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I’m the perpetrator of that.”
Sheesh, tell us how you really feel!
That makes things awkward for Montgomery and the D’backs heading into the offseason. Montgomery has a $22.5 million option for the 2025 season which he’ll almost certainly exercise, despite Kendrick seemingly begging him not to.
In August, Montgomery stated that his former agent Scott Boras “butchered” his free agency. He didn’t sign with Arizona until March 29, when the regular season was already underway. His abnormal winter and lack of a spring training program may have played roles in his horrific 2024 campaign.
Reds Hire Terry Francona
Tito is back!
In an unexpected move, the Reds announced they signed manager Terry Francona to a three-year contract with a team option for the 2028 season. Francona stepped down as Guardians manager after the 2023 season amid health issues. At the time, he told reporters his priority for 2024 was to “go home and get healthy and see what I miss about the game.”
Francona, 65, has enjoyed an illustrious managerial career with the Phillies, Red Sox, and Guardians. He won two World Series titles during his eight-year tenure in Boston and made the small-market Cleveland club a perennial contender during his 11 years as skipper.
It’s a tremendous hire for Cincinnati, which finished the 2024 season with an underwhelming 77-85 record. With plenty of young talent on the roster and a proven manager on the bench, a bounce-back season is on the table for the Reds in 2025.
Mets vs. Braves double-header
A weather postponement set up a Mets-Braves double-header on Monday that had significant postseason implications. If either team lost both games, they would be eliminated from playoff contention and the Diamondbacks would take their spot. If they split, both teams would clinch a Wild Card spot and Arizona would be eliminated.
Here’s how it went…
Game 1
This one should be a frontrunner for Game of the Year.
It was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when the Braves struck first on a two-run Ozzie Albies homer. Ramon Laureano extended the Atlanta lead to 3-0 with a solo blast in the sixth.
The Mets finally responded with a six-run eighth inning capped off by a two-run Brandon Nimmo homer. New York’s three-run lead didn’t last long, however, as the Braves rallied to pull ahead by one in the bottom of the frame. You can watch the wild inning below:
With a runner on first and one out, Francisco Lindor put the Mets back up with a two-run shot. New York closed out the 8-7 win to punch its ticket to the postseason.
Game 2
Likely NL Cy Young award winner Chris Sale was supposed to start Game 2 but was scratched due to back spasms. Grant Holmes stepped in to start for Atlanta.
Holmes stepped up to pitch four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven Mets hitters. Atlanta went on to win 3-0 to advance to the postseason, eliminating Arizona from contention.
Wild Card Series
Tigers vs. Astros - Game 1
Tarik Skubal, the 2024 AL Cy Young shoo-in, shut down Houston with six scoreless innings of work. Detroit cruised to a 3-1 win, scoring all three of its runs in the second inning off Astros starter Framber Valdez.
Game 2
The Tigers went with the bullpen game approach in Game 2 against Hunter Brown and the Astros, and it worked.
Houston didn’t get on the board until the seventh inning, when it took a brief 2-1 lead on knocks from Jon Singleton and Jose Altuve. Detroit answered with a four-run rally in the top of the eighth, which you can watch below:
The Tigers completed the sweep to snap the Astros’ seven-year ALCS streak. They advanced to take on the Guardians in the ALDS.
Royals vs. Orioles - Game 1
As expected, it was a pitchers duel between Royals ace Cole Ragans and Orioles ace Corbin Burnes. Both clubs were held scoreless until Kansas City’s superstar Bobby Witt Jr. finally broke through in the sixth. That was the only run scored in the game as the Royals jumped out to a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2
Another low-scoring affair with the Royals’ Seth Lugo taking on the Orioles’ Zach Eflin. The Royals went ahead 1-0 early but the O’s responded in the fifth with a game-tying Cedric Mullins homer. Kansas City quickly answered with another run in the top of the sixth and kept it scoreless for the rest of the game to secure a 2-1 win and a series sweep.
The Royals advanced to meet the Yankees in the ALDS.
Mets vs. Brewers - Game 1
The Mets and Brewers traded punches early with Milwaukee scoring two runs in the bottom of the first (William Contreras single, Rhys Hoskins hit-by-pitch) and New York answering with a three-run second (Jesse Winker two-run triple, Starling Marte sac fly).
After Winker hit his triple, he exchanged words with Brewers shortstop Willy Adames. Adames told him to meet him in the parking lot after the game, and apparently he actually waited for Winker to show up but he never did.
The Brewers pulled back ahead with two runs in the fourth but it was shortlived as the Mets plated five in the top of the fifth. The game was scoreless the rest of the way, resulting in an 8-4 Mets victory.
Game 2
Brandon Nimmo put the Mets on the board first with an RBI single in the first inning. Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio responded with a solo blast in the bottom of the frame.
New York tacked on two more runs in the second with a Francisco Alvarez single and Francisco Lindor sac fly. Milwaukee’s Blake Perkins had a sac fly of his own in the fifth to cut the Mets’ lead to one.
In the eighth, Chourio struck again with another solo homer to tie it up at 3-3. Garrett Mitchell hit what turned out to be the game-winning two-run blast as Milwaukee went on to earn a 5-3 victory and tie the series at 1.
Game 3
The do-or-die Game 3 between the Brewers and Mets lived up to the hype.
It was scoreless until the seventh when Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick hit back-to-back bombs to put the Brewers up 2-0.
Milwaukee appeared to be heading to the NLDS before a polar bear got in their way.
In the top of the ninth, Pete Alonso kept the Mets alive with what turned out to be a game-winning three-run blast.
New York won 4-2 to advance to the NLDS vs. the Phillies.
Braves vs. Padres - Game 1
San Diego starter Michael King tossed a gem with 12 strikeouts across seven scoreless innings. Kyle Higashioka and Fernando Tatis Jr. provided the offense with a pair of homers to propel the Padres to a 4-0 win.
Game 2
Marcell Ozuna put Atlanta on the board first with a first-inning sac fly against Padres starter Joe Musgrove.
San Diego answered with a five-run second inning against Braves ace Max Fried. Kyle Higashioka tied it with a solo blast, then Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill piled on with a two-run double and two-run triple.
Jorge Soler hit a solo homer in the fifth and Michael Harris II hit a two-run blast in the eighth, but it wasn’t enough as the Padres closed out a 5-4 win to advance to the NLDS, where they’ll take on the Dodgers.
Unfortunately for San Diego, it will be without Joe Musgrove for the remainder of the playoffs and all of next year as he suffered a UCL tear and will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Division Series Game 1s
Tigers vs. Guardians
Cleveland jumped on Detroit with a five-run first inning. Lane Thomas’ three-run blast off Tigers starter Tyler Holton did most of the damage. Holton did not record an out before being replaced by Reese Olson.
The score stayed at 5-0 until the sixth when David Fry extended the Guardians’ lead to seven with a two-run double. Cleveland finished off the 7-0 shutout to take a 1-0 series lead.
Mets vs. Phillies
Kyle Schwarber started the clash between NL East rivals with a leadoff home run off Mets starter Kodai Senga, giving him the most postseason homers in Phillies history with 12.
The Mets couldn’t get anything going offensively until Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (7.0 IP, 1 H, 9 K, 4 BB) exited the game. Once he departed, they erupted for five runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-1 lead.
New York closed it out to earn a 6-2 victory and steal a 1-0 series lead.
Royals vs. Yankees
It was a back-and-forth affair between the Royals and Yankees in the Bronx. It was 1-0 KC when Gleyber Torres hit a two-run blast off Michael Wacha to put the Yankees ahead.
MJ Melendez immediately responded in the top of the fourth with a two-run shot of his own off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
The Yankees and Royals exchanged blows over the next couple innings, making the score tied at 5 heading into the bottom of the seventh. That’s when Alex Verdugo came through with a clutch go-ahead RBI single that turned out to be the game-winner for New York.
Padres vs. Dodgers
San Diego wasted little time against L.A. starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, scoring three runs in the first inning including a two-run blast from Manny Machado.
In the second, Shohei Ohtani did Shohei Ohtani things. He tied it up at 3-3 with his first career postseason homer.
The fun continued in the third inning with Xander Bogaerts’ two-run double to put the Padres back up 5-3. It didn’t stay fun for San Diego when Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernandez hit one to center that got by Padres rookie Jackson Merrill, allowing two the Dodgers to go back up 6-5. L.A. went on to take Game 1 of the series in a thriller, 7-5.
The Rumor Mill
It’s the return of the Rumor Mill on the Weekly Rundown. This section will be your go-to spot for MLB rumors from now through Opening Day.
The Cardinals are willing to listen to trade offers for veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale. They signed Gray to a three-year, $75 million deal last offseason.
With the Cardinals cutting payroll, it’s no surprise they don’t plan to bring back first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, per The Athletic’s Katie Woo. Goldschmidt is set to become a free agent.
Rangers GM Chris Young stated that re-signing impending free-agent pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heany would be a priority. Eovaldi triggered a $20 million player option for 2025.
The Astros are expected to present a formal contract proposal to impending free agent third baseman Alex Bregman soon, per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.