Here are three things we’re focusing on throughout the day from around baseball:
1. World Series Heading to Toronto:
While Game 1 of the World Series doesn’t start until tomorrow, both teams are now in Toronto for pre-series workouts. Blue Jays manager John Schneider and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will both speak to the media, as will the starters for both clubs’ first games. For Dodgers, expected to be left-handed Blake Snellbut it’s unclear who will play for Toronto. Today, both clubhouses will be fully open to the media for a period of time, providing journalists with the opportunity to interview other players from the club. Today’s practice can also serve as an important step for any player dealing with injuries hoping to make a World Series roster.
2. Mariners end-of-season press conference:
The Mariners will make president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, general manager Justin Hollander and manager Dan Wilson available to the media later today, with a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. local time today. The Mariners are having one of their best seasons in history, with the club winning the AL West and coming just one game shy of reaching the World Series for the first time, Seattle now faces an impending exit Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarezand Jorge Polanco. Replacing offensive talent will undoubtedly be the biggest task facing the front office this winter, and today’s press conference will provide some insight into how they plan to accomplish that goal.
3. Management vacancies reduced to 6:
The Giants officially hired Tony Vitlow to be their next head coach yesterday, leaving just six teams unsure who will coach them next year: the Padres, Rockies, Braves, Orioles, Twins and Nationals. Most clubs have progressed through the interview process, although the Rockies won’t even decide on an interim head coach’s identity Warren Shafer That is until a new head of baseball operations is in place. This search may even be the next one to come to a conclusion now that Colorado has narrowed the list of contenders for the position to a handful of finalists. Guardians assistant general manager Matt Foreman and Diamondbacks assistant general manager Amir Sodaye are the two candidates known to remain, and may even be the only two remaining candidates.
