Outside The Confines: Goodbye to a legend

Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela passes away. A World Series preview and other MLB news.

We were all set to celebrate the World Series and the first Yankees/Dodgers Fall Classic since 1981. But first, we have to say goodbye to one of the heroes of that World Series of 43 years ago.

• Dodgers and Mexican legend Fernando Valenzuela died at the age of 63 last night. Jesse Sanchez has the MLB dot com obituary.
• Here’s the LA Times obituary on Valenzuela. (Yahoo! link)
• Here’s an MLB Network piece on how “Fernandomania” seized Los Angeles and the country in 1981.

• Bill Plaschke writes that Valenzuela was the man who finally connected all of Los Angeles with the Dodgers. He also calls Valenzuela the most popular LA Dodger ever.
• Dylan Hernández tells the story of the Valenzuela he knew: a man of quiet dignity, a wicked sense of humor and a high baseball IQ.
• Tom Verducci remembers Valenzuela and Fernandomania and says his legacy will be the impact he left and all the baseball fans he created in Mexico, Central America and South America.
• OK. On to the World Series. I’m sure more Valenzuela tributes will be pouring in over the next few days. I did hear that MLB will be honoring Valenzuela during the World Series. Bob Nightengale writes that MLB is getting its dream Series with the two best teams from the two most glamorous markets.
• Jay Jaffe looks at the “Clash of the Titans” as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge face off.
• Russell Dorsey has a World Series preview that emphasises that there is more to these teams than just the big stars.
• A roundtable discussion serves as a World Series preview for ESPN.
• Brian Murphy and Andrew Simon have five defining storylines of the World Series.
• Will Leitch has eight players who could decide the World Series.
• Chad Jennings has ten steps that built the Yankees into a pennant winner. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• And Jennings also has ten steps that built the Dodgers into a pennant winner. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Matt Snyder breaks down the condition of the both teams’ pitching staffs as the Series begins.
• Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 for the Dodgers.
• The Yankees and Nestor Cortes are debating whether to include Cortes on the World Series roster. Cortes hasn’t pitched since September 18 and would risk serious arm injury (including Tommy John surgery) if he pitches before fully healthy. Nonetheless, he wants to pitch in the Series.
• Jay Jaffe examines how starting pitchers have fared in the postseason so far.’
• One thing that Jaffe mentions in that article is the “reliever familiarity effect.” Mike Petriello looks at that phenomenon and says it’s a lot more complicated than you might think.
• Jim Callis ranks Dodgers and Yankees based on how much hype they received as prospects.
• Brian Murphy looks at the other times the two teams with the best records faced off in the World Series. Obviously since the advent of divisional play in 1969. It would be a pretty long article if he went back farther than that.
• With all the talk of the “dream matchup” between the Yankees and Giants, David Schoenfield ranks every World Series since 2000 based on how great the “matchup” was going in. (ESPN+ sub. req.) The interesting thing is he then contrasts the hype to how good the Series actually turned out to be. You’ll also agree with him on his number-one matchup.
• Brittany Ghiroli argues that winning the World Series won’t guarantee that Juan Soto will return to the Yankees. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Matt Snyder has the winners and losers of the postseason so far.
• Ben Clemens has a report card for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.
• Jeff Passan argues that even though they lost to the Dodgers, there are big things in store for the Mets over the next few seasons.
• Those big things may not include free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso reflected back on his time with the Mets fondly in a postseason press conference.
• Jason Foster has eleven oddities about the postseason that you should know.
• MLB has backed off the plan to install artificial turf at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento for the Athletics and River Cats.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the situation about where the Rays will play this year. It sounds like the first choice is a minor league or Spring Training site in and around the Tampa Bay area.
• The Cardinals have hired Guardians director of player development Rob Cerfolio to undertake a “major overall” of their minor league system. (The Athletic free reg. req.)
• The Cardinals have also hired Brant Brown as their new hitting coach. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Also, former Cub Jon Jay will be joining the Cards in an unspecified role.
• In the “some people have too much money” category, Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 home run ball sold for $4.4 million.
• And finally, I know this song isn’t about Valenzuela, but I remember it being played a lot over Valenzuela highlights during the Fernandomania era.

Rest in peace, Fernando.