I know I'm a day late (and more than a dollar short) but as impressive as the Tampa Bay Rays have been, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to win their first World Series title since 2017 1988.
The Dodgers had one stolen from them three years ago by the Astros, but this team is going to steamroll the Rays.
Mookie Betts, traded by the Red Sox earlier this year to provide much needed "payroll flexibility" for a team that charges $12 for a 12-ounce draft beer, will earn World Series MVP honors and the Dodgers - stacked with stars, young talent, and enough money to make Hunter Biden want to open a new GMail account - could be on the verge of making a run at several championships over the next few years.
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Alex Cora, manager of the 2018 Red Sox that beat the Dodgers for the World Series, is eligible to end his MLB suspension for being associated with the 2017 Astros scandal at the end of this World Series.
The Red Sox are still searching for a manager, after Ron Roenicke was let go after the season.
Other than Roenicke, who was Cora's bench coach in 2018 and 2019, the Red Sox did retain several coaches that worked under Cora in Boston. This includes hitting coach Tim Hyers and third base coach Carlos Febles.
So, is Cora destined to return to Boston?
The guess here is yes, but a potential roadblock to a return for Cora is Chaim Bloom. Bloom was hired to run Boston's baseball operations and it would be customary to allow him to choose the manager.
Cora's cause is helped by the fact that the team's foundation - shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers - played well for and had a good relationship with Cora. That is important as the Red Sox will try to build a contender around Bogaerts and Devers.
If not Cora, the Red Sox could turn to former team captain and current coach Jason Varitek. Varitek has never been a manager and has only recently started coaching, but would be a popular choice in Boston.
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Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have won their 12th NBA Championship (they can count the five titles won by the Minneapolis Lakers as soon as they retire George Mikan's #99 jersey at Staples Center), the Celtics can now focus on the quest for their 18th title.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown form one of the most promising young duos in the NBA. But those two stars will need help to achieve the goal of winning a championship.
It's time for Danny Ainge to be aggressive, and be willing to gamble on adding the necessary pieces to put the Celtics into a position to win this year.
That is not happening through the Draft or through Free Agency. So it's time for Danny to work the trade market.
Boston could swing a three-way deal with the Pacers and Clippers that would allow the Pacers to begin their rebuild and allow the Clippers to reshape their roster in their quest for a title run.
Indiana would get Boston's first round picks in the draft at #14 and #30, as well as Boston's 2021 first round pick in addition to Gordon Hayward, Landry Shamet, Robert Williams, and Vincent Poirier.
The first round picks help Indiana add young pieces. Hayward could be an attractive trade chip for the Pacers to deal away at the 2021 trade deadline. Shamet and Williams are promising young players on cheap contracts, while Poirier is added to balance the money.
Los Angeles adds Victor Oladipo, Marcus Smart, and Enes Kanter. Oladipo gives the Cippers the scoring point guard they need to complement Kawhi Leonard and Smart provides defense, play making, and toughness. Kanter balances the money, but did show himself to be a useful change-of-pace big man who can score near the basket and rebound.
Boston adds Paul George, Myles Turner, and Patrick Beverley. George provides an upgrade over Hayward on the wing for the Celtics, Turner gives Brad Stevens a legitimate center (who can also shoot), and Beverley provides decent value in replacing Smart's defense and toughness.
Stevens would be able to run out a starting five of Kemba Walker, Brown, Tatum, George, and Turner while having a bench led by Beverley, Daniel Theis, and Grant Williams. Ainge would still have the #26 pick in this draft as well as mid-level free agent options, and the hope that a player like Carsen Edwards or Romeo Langford develops into a contributing rotation piece by the 2021 playoffs.
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Do not count out Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
While it seems like the Patriots have never been 2-3 this late in the season since the days of Rod Rust and Dick McPherson, this is a team that has handled a lot of adversity early this season caused by Covid and injury but is on the verge of breaking out and winning the AFC East for the 87th consecutive year.
I think 2-3 is going to turn into 11-5.
Now, the Titans and the Chiefs look to be the class of the AFC but if the Patriots go on the run I expect them too, no one will want to play them in January.
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Was it really the 16th anniversary of the Red Sox winning the 2004 ALCS yesterday?
I was at Yankee Stadium that night, and I can't imagine how the memory of that night will ever be topped in my life as a sports fan.
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Enjoy Mookie Betts tonight.
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