MSwitching gears: MLB just posted a wild stat about the Rays' bullpen.
LThe league account claims Bryan Baker has converted thirty-five straight save opportunities. That's the anchor of that bullpen.
MThirty-five straight? I want to see the official number on that, because that sounds almost too clean.
LThe league account posted it, but I'm with you — verify before you put that on a graphic.
MIf it's real, that's a monster. World Series stage, and the Rays have a closer who just doesn't blink.
LBrewers fans don't want to hear that. They want to see this thing go seven games.
MA lockdown closer is exactly how you win a seven-game series. One-run games, late leads, done.
LOkay, but the Brewers have the better rotation. You can't just hand the Rays the trophy because of a save streak.
MI'm not handing them anything! I'm saying if that streak is real, it changes the whole late-game math.
LAnd I'm saying one reliever doesn't beat a whole lineup. Baseball doesn't work that way.
MTell that to Mariano Rivera. Tell that to every team that lost in the ninth.
LRivera is the exception, not the rule! You can't compare Bryan Baker to Mariano Rivera.
MI'm not comparing the players. I'm comparing the situation. A hot closer in October is a weapon.
LFine. Weapon. But the Brewers have bats, and bats beat bullpens when it matters.
MWe'll find out. Game one's coming up, and I can't wait.
LDifferent world entirely: boxing. Shock Foster says after Saturday night, people will call him the best fighter in the world.
MThat's a big claim for a guy who still has to get through Navarrete.
LThey had their final face-off today. Foster's confident, I'll give him that.
MConfidence is fine. But 'best fighter in the world'? That's Canelo, Crawford, Inoue territory.
LYou know what? I like it. If you don't believe you're the best, why are you in there?
MThere's a difference between believing it and saying it out loud before the fight.
LNavarrete's a former champ. If Foster beats him clean, he's in the conversation.
MIn the conversation, sure. Best in the world? That's a stretch.
LWe'll see Saturday. If he backs it up, I'll be the first one saying he called his shot.
MAnd if he doesn't, that quote's going to follow him around for a while.
LThat's the risk. That's the fun.
MOne more from the racing world: an astrophysicist on Bluesky says at least F1 drivers are paying attention to something.
LShe linked an ESPN story. Sounds like she's calling out the league or the teams for not paying attention.
MThe drivers get it, but the people in charge don't. That's the read.
LClassic F1. The people actually in the cars know what's wrong, and the suits are asleep.
MWhatever it is, the drivers are the ones who matter. They're the show.
LAnd the show's at COTA this weekend. Big one.
MBig one. And we'll be all over it.