:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61803805/1052321484.jpg.0.jpg)
The NBA regular season got underway on Tuesday evening, which ended yet another offseason that could easily be mistaken for a soap opera. Between player feuds, trade rumors, and whatever LeBron James was up to on a given day, the NBA was seemingly always in the limelight.
Luckily for us, the MLB playoffs are doing their best impression. First up is a drama-filled ALCS, which the Boston Red Sox now control after stealing Game 3 in Houston. Boston held a slim lead late, but Jackie Bradley broke the game open with an eighth inning grand slam reminiscent of the play that shall not be named. It lended more credence to our theory that the 2018 Astros are the 2013 Detroit Tigers, despite already having a championship trophy on their mantle.
That’s not even the best part, though. It seems that the Astros are cheating, and not in the semi-innocent “oh we figured out your signs” fashion.
According to a report from Metro USA, the Astros were caught red-handed with an employee with a video camera near the Boston Red Sox dugout in Game 1 of the ALDS. The alleged employee didn’t have a media credential and was “texting frequently” per the report from Metro.
Major League Baseball themselves confirmed the incident via email with a simple statement: “We are aware of the matter and it will be handled internally.”
I don’t know exactly what information that person could learn that wouldn’t be readily available elsewhere in the ballpark — it’s not like the Astros need to spy on who is warming up in the bullpen — but it’s apparently bad enough that the Indians warned the Red Sox about this before the ALCS.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are just plain dirty
I didn’t mind Manny Machado’s blatant disregard for hustling down the line, because fake hustle is overrated, but this is not a good look.
Manny Machado is a classless punk. 0 hits and 2ks and he pulls this in extra innings. Sit down pic.twitter.com/0NGcrM14mL
— Bryce Dille (@SultanOfScotch) October 17, 2018
That’s on purpose, point blank. I hope Machado is suspended for Game 5, if not longer.
Whether Machado plays or not, we are guaranteed to have a Game 6 in this year’s NLCS after the Dodgers evened the series in extra innings on Tuesday. Cody Bellinger drove in Machado (who else?) in the 13th inning, breaking open a game that had been knotted at 1-1 since the fifth inning.
The real fireworks came after the game, though.
Christian Yelich on Manny Machado’s incident at first base with Jesus Aguilar: “It’s a dirty play by a dirty player.”
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) October 17, 2018
Counsell on if Manny Machado has gone beyond the bounds of playing hard: “I don’t think he’s playing all that hard,” Counsell said.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 17, 2018
After Yelich finished answering questions about Machado, he walked away from his locker and blurted out: “F - - k that mother- - - - er.”
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) October 17, 2018
Wednesday’s Game 5 is now must-see TV. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. on Fox Sports 1, so set your DVRs ASAP.
Around the horn
Grant Brisbee is a little more appreciative of Machado’s heel turn this October. Rich Hill was tipping his pitches. Maybe Rich Hill is just very passionate about fighting tooth decay. The Marlins are doing away with the home run sculpture, and will be changing their logo too. Everything you need to know about the Tigers this offseason.