Elephant Rumblings: World Series heads to The Bronx

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

The Dodgers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Yankees in Los Angeles over the weekend, leaving New York in the unenviable position of needing to take four out of five remaining games to make a successful comeback in this 12th World Series between the two teams.

However, questions loom over Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani after he suffered a partially dislocated left shoulder in making an unsuccessful attempt to steal second base in Saturday’s game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated that there are no serious structural issues apparent and that Ohtani is expected to be in the lineup for today’s Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.

The Dodgers certainly wouldn’t take a huge risk with Shohei’s health, but there is a chance the slugger will prove little more than a decoy for the remainder of the series. Meanwhile, Yankees fans hope that Aaron Judge will break out of his postseason slump to help his team get back in it.

Much has been made of the historic nature of this year’s Dodgers-Yankees World Series. It is the most storied October matchup in MLB history in the sense that the two teams have met in the Fall Classic more times than any other pairing.

Of course, the Athletics are prominent in World Series history too—and while the Yankees tower over all other franchises with 27 World Series wins, the A’s are tied for third with nine titles—two more than the Dodgers. Jason Burke at SI.com also pointed out that the A’s won more World Series in Philadelphia than the Phillies have to date.

It’s pretty amazing that the A’s still figure so prominently in Series history, given that they haven’t made the trip since 1990. The A’s wound up with four World Series wins and two losses through their 57-year history in the Bay Area, falling one short of the five Commissioner’s Trophies they collected while in Philly.

Have a fantastic week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Blogfather To Lob Softball (Questions) At Coliseum Sunday
• Stars gather to honor Reggie Jackson, bid final farewell to the Coliseum ($)
• Former A’s, Houston Astros outfielder shares Coliseum memento
• Philadelphia Phillies still trailing the A’s in World Series titles in Philly
• Who were the fastest, slowest A’s in 2024?
• Former Miami Marlins President Doesn’t Believe A’s John Fisher Will Get His Valuation

MLB News & Interest:

• Dodgers seize 2-0 lead over Yankees in World Series; Shohei Ohtani leaves with injury ($)
• What’s wrong with Aaron Judge? Yankees need his MVP version to stage World Series comeback
• Ohtani’s Injury Casts Doubt Over Dodgers’ World Series Chances
• Manfred: Rays expected to have stadium situation figured out by Christmas ($)
• Dodgers Expected To Be In On Juan Soto’s Free Agent Market
• World Series Notes: Rodon, Flaherty, Cole, Phillips
• Doug Bird Passes Away
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Rickey says a final farewell to his home turf.

Sole survivor.

Just now noticing Nye’s very...Spockish eyebrows.