Rangers Win Their First World Series

The FanGraphs Newsletter, November 2, 2023 [READ IN BROWSER]( November 2, 2023 The last of the extant pre-divisional era franchises to not have won the World Series has finally hoisted their own trophy, as the Texas Rangers shut down the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-0, to score the team’s first championship. Texas’ starter, Nathan Eovaldi, was shaky in the early going, but every last one of Arizona’s runners were stranded on the basepaths, and the shelling of Paul Sewald in the ninth sealed the deal with insurance runs. If you just watched the starting pitchers, Eovaldi and Zac Gallen, for the first five innings on Wednesday night, you might be surprised that the series didn’t find its way back to Texas. The Rangers entered Game 5 having won all five of Eovaldi’s starts this postseason, but it was Gallen who looked to have the advantage early on. Eovaldi’s control was spotty. He allowed five walks over five innings, the most free passes he’s issued in a decade, going back to when he was a hard-throwing Marlins prospect who had trouble putting away batters. Indeed, things started off quite rough for Eovaldi, with Corbin Carroll, the likely NL Rookie of the Year, walking on four straight pitches and then stealing second. Carroll got to third on a Ketel Marte grounder, but would advance no farther, as grounders from Gabriel Moreno and Tommy Pham left the task incomplete. This was a pattern for Eovaldi all night, as he got in more jams than a fly at a breakfast buffet. Arizona got at least one runner into scoring position in every inning until the sixth, Eovaldi’s sole 1-2-3 frame. But the Rangers starter escaped all those sticky situations, while Arizona went an abysmal 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on the night. All in all, the Diamondbacks stranded 11 runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth; in postseason history, only three teams have ever put up worse numbers in shutouts: [READ MORE]( [The Big Turnaround, the Big Managerial Comeback and More: Five Thoughts on the Rangers' Championship]( Some history and perspective on Texas winning its first World Series in franchise history. | by Jay Jaffe [In New York, Judge's Roberto Clemente Award Win Carries Special Meaning]( As a public figure in a city with deep ties to Puerto Rico and Clemente, the honor has tangible meaning to Aaron Judge and the Puerto Rican community. | by Esteban Rivera [These Bullpen Games Are Tearing Me Apart]( Why do teams resort to an unwieldy, unpopular brand of baseball in the playoffs? Because they want to win, and there aren't enough good starters to go around. | by Michael Baumann [Contract Crowdsourcing 2023-24: Ballot 5 of 11]( The crowdsourcing continues with four players with experience in NPB and the KBO. [Contract Crowdsourcing 2023-24: Ballot 6 of 11]( The crowdsourcing continues with a group of starting pitchers. [Contract Crowdsourcing 2023-24: Ballot 7 of 11]( The crowdsourcing continues with another group of starting pitchers. 🎧 [Effectively Wild Episode 2078: Drought Conditions]( [DOWNLOAD THE FANGRAPHS APP]( [FanGraphs & Effectively Wild Merch Is Now Available at BreakingT!]( [ORDER HERE]( [Why Bruce Bochy was the perfect manager for the Rangers - and now might be the greatest manager ever]( by Buster Olney, ESPN [Silver Slugger Award finalists announced]( via MLB [Ranking MLB franchises closest to winning their first World Series]( by Marc Carig and Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic ($) [Top High School Prospects From The Summer, Fall Circuits (Part 4)]( by Carlos Collazo, Baseball America ($) [@fangraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [RSS]( [FORWARD]( [SUBSCRIBE]( Copyright © 2023 FanGraphs Inc, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the FanGraphs Newsletter. Our mailing address is: FanGraphs Inc 1200 N Hartford St. Apt 312Arlington, Va 22201 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](