Outside The Confines: Stayin’ alive!

The Yankees’ slump was one for the ages, but they still have a chance.

The World Series seems as if it only just started, and now it might just get interesting.

Don’t call it a comeback! But do call it a comeback. Lots of experts had all but counted the Yankees out after a 3-0 Series start from the Dodgers. Despite a slumping performance from Aaron Judge, the Yankees proved they weren’t going down without a fight by clawing there way back from an early Dodgers lead to get their first win of the series in an emphatic 11-4 blowout, highlighted by Anthony Volpe’s grand slam.

Obviously, there’s still a long way to go if they want to come back and win it all, but hey, there are other teams who came back from a 3-1 record to win it all, aren’t there? Cubs fans should remember one of those teams very well.

Whatever happens in Game 5 tonight, the Yankees at least proved they were going to make it interesting.

Now let’s jump into today’s links!

• Jay Jaffe looks at Mookie Betts’ postseason return to stardom.
• Thomas Harrigan takes a gander at some 3-0 comebacks that Dave Roberts doesn’t want to see repeated.
• Evan Drellich looks at how the World Series is bringing cameras just about everywhere. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Michael Rosen assesses Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s secret weapon.
• This is such an involved process!

• Putting the “world” in World Series, the big event is averaging over 15 million viewers in Japan. (AP)
• Do-Hyoung Park tries to determine why Aaron Judge has been slumping in the World Series.
• Karl Rasmussen reports that Aaron Boone considered moving Aaron Judge in the order for Game 4.
• Cailey Gleeson shares what to expect from the upgrades to the Brewers’ American Family Field.
• Slump stats.

• Ken Rosenthal looks at the Yankees’ downfall and the rude awakening that could await them. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Ben Clemens takes us pitch-by-pitch with two genius hitters.
• Freddie Freeman has set a World Series home run record. (AP)
• Ryan Phillips looks at the history of (and some fun facts about) the Commissioner’s Trophy.
• Manny Randhawa tries to figure out how the Yankees could bounce back.
• Shohei Ohtani’s hometown hosted a World Seris viewing party at City Hall. Story by Michael Clair.
• Gerrit Cole brushed off a sweep when asked about the team’s 3-0 deficit ahead of Game Four.
• Your 2024 Roberto Clemente Award Winner.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.