I don't even know where to start. The Astros "lost" last night 8-6 in Game 4 after Jose Altuve's game-tying home run in the first was erroneously ruled as fan interference by someone who gets paid to do their job, and also by replay officials who are also presumably paid to get calls right. They did not. Astros pitchers failed in big spots and now the Astros need three straight wins in order to win their second consecutive pennant and World Series.
*The Red Sox are now 86.5% favorites to win the series, via FanGraphs.
FiveThirtyEight says the Red Sox win 88% of the simulations, though Houston wins 60% of the Game 5 simulations.
*Altuve, on the call:
I've got zero control, so it's hard for me to say something when it doesn't matter what I said. They're not going to change it. I normally don't get mad about umpires' calls. That one I was a little upset. I looked at the replay, and it's tough. That's the only thing I can say. It's really hard.
*Reddick:
I'm pissed off, we're all pissed off. That's the best way to describe it. Frustration, and beyond that, to being pissed off because it would have made a big difference. We talked about it during the course of the whole game.
Professional dick Joe West:
Here's the whole play. [Altuve] hit the ball to right field [Ed. Note: Correct.] [Betts] jumped up to try to make a catch [Ed. Note: Correct.] The fan interfered with him over the playing field. [Ed. Note: Incorrect.] That's why I called spectator interference. The replay official said I was right. [Ed. Note: Incorrect.] That's all. He said I have nothing that can change it.
Joe West is a moron and those idiots in Chelsea aren't any better.
The liar Mookie Betts:
I'm 100% positive I was going to be able to catch that one. But as I jumped and went over, reached my hand up, I felt like somebody was kind of pushing my glove out of the way or something.
And that, right there, is the reason it should have been a home run. Betts was over the wall. Rule 6.01(e) clearly says:
No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator's interference.
Joe West’s entire postgame interview with a pool reporter pic.twitter.com/Z1kf5cqvJq— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 18, 2018
What the hell else do you want? The fan was not over the fence, not on the playing field. Betts went over the fence into the stands. Whichever Houston-area Golden Corral bathroom Joe West is currently destroying, he needs to be shouted out of there.
*FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan says the fan interference call was more Good than Bad. I disagree with FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan.
*So many things were inches away. Christian Vazquez's double that hit George Springer's glove was followed by Jackie Bradley Jr.'s two-run go-ahead home run. Correa flipping the ball to Marwin to start the double-play rather than missing the bag by about 2" and only getting one out. Lance McCullers walking in a run. Tony Kemp getting thrown out at second in the 8th. All of the breaks that the 2017 Astros caught on the way to a World Series title are suddenly going the other way.
*Carlos Correa:
Two tremendous teams going at it. It was well-played baseball. They came up with the win. I had some flashbacks of Game 5 of the World Series last year. That's the type of game it was. Nobody gave up. We didn't win, but it was a great game.
*The Athletic: An oral history of Game 4.
*The bullpen, ALCS: 6.89 ERA. 15.2IP, 17H/12ER. Unacceptable.
*Tony Kemp's home run was the softest-hit home run of the postseason. And it didn't go as far as Altuve's.
*The Ringer: Is the Verlander trade the best deadline deal in baseball history?
*The Red Sox had a coach kicked out of the ALDS and the Dodgers and Rockies lobbed accusations about cheating at each other, too.
