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A
All right, everybody, welcome to Throwbacks, a little different episode than we normally do. This is a reaction episode to the Yankees Dodgers World Series results. We weren't able to get it into our podcast that just dropped earlier today because we taped it yesterday. As always, I'm with my guy, Matt Liner. And if you're with us, please, again follow us on at throwback show and YouTube channel, please subscribe to it. Matt, let's get down to business. Cause I feel like if I'm gonna talk trash in victory, I need to accept the hard conversations in defeat. I know you had a great night last night, but tell the audience. Where did you watch game five, Gary?
B
I'm. I'm a little tired. I'm not gonna lie, man. It's been. It's been a crazy 24 hours. I flew. Flew to New York to see compliments of our. Of our bosses at Sinclair. I got a chance to go to game five of the World Series. Dodgers, Yankees in New York. Said never, never been to Yankee Stadium. Been. Been. Do some Dodger playoff games, World Series games in the past, but this was one I had. I'm in. I'm currently in. In State College, Pennsylvania. We have the big game this weekend. So it's been a little bit of a roller coaster. I'm in my hotel room. But, um, I was able to see game five last night. I was on the field and the pre. How about this? I was on the field pre game saying. Saying hi to some Fox people. I just, you know, shot the shit with Ken Griffey Jr. For about 10 minutes on the side over there. We were just hanging. I actually thought of you because I was about to. I was about to mention the video game that we talked about.
A
Absolutely.
B
Saw some of my boys over there. Saw the. Saw the Fox pregame crew. Poppy Jeter, a Rod, and those guys. Burkhart. And then I sat in my seat and I got to witness a bizarre. I think. I know we're going to dive in bizarre at points for the Yankees, but I got to witness my team win a World Series in New York, man, against the Pinstripes. It was. It was epic, dude. It was. It was a great game. Again, I'm still on cloud nine. I was just telling you before this. I, you know, I'm a lifelong Dodger fan. My brother, my dad. Because my dad. My dad grew up in the, you know, in inglewood in the 50s. And it's when they came over from Brooklyn, and it's just born into it. Just a lot like you, you know, you're born in the. You root for your team. And I got to FaceTime him. I was like, right when it happened, I video and I FaceTime my pop and he's like, shedding the tear. I'm shedding the tear. I'm going, let's go. No. 1 that the stadium, as you can imagine, you could hear a pin drop in that place. Yankees fans are cussing at every player on that team. I'm like, I'm trying to keep it cool, you know, and I'll be disrespectful, but I'm like, yeah, Pop, you know, we've had three World Series championships since I've been born. I thought about this. 88, 20 and now this and 88. I do remember it was the Gibby home run and it was one of those vivid memories as a 5 year old. I remember nothing about the rest of the series. And then in 2020 with COVID which was just different, obviously. And this one and this one for me, special because my family and stuff like that. So my, My pops is getting older. He's. He feels good, but just we got to, got to get another Dodgers World Series, man. So I'm fired up, dude. I can only imagine how you're feeling, dude. I know, I know. The Yankees, it was, it was pretty. A lopsided series. Obviously they hurt themselves last night, but I'm happy, man.
A
Well, that, that is cool. Like they're, they're. Baseball still has that right. You know, everyone gives their opinions on baseball. The season's too long, the games are too long, which they fix that. It's too localized, but it still has the father, kid, even mother. I don't want. You know, it still has that magic. So I am happy for you for that. And honestly, I'm not angry as a Yankee fan today. I'm just sad. I'm just sad because by the way.
B
You had been angry last night that definitely you. They. Oh, my.
A
Yeah. What was it like when the fifth inning was going on and. Have you ever been the road fan in a baseball playoff game? It's like, it's. It's torture being the road fan.
B
I. I was sitting. So I was sitting around a bunch. It was, it was great. The people around us were great. We were. You know, they knew I was a Dodger fan. It was all good, honestly. The, the first game. And by the way, I had no problem with the Dodgers losing last night and going back to Game 6 in LA and winning to be there. I was selfishly like, I want to see him Celebrate. But you know what? The Series goes longer. We all want that. It'd be great. Let's go win it in la, right? So the first inning, they're just hitting bombs, and I'm like, oh, like at 5. 0, the Yankees jumped on. They're going. They're going nuts. And then all of a sudden, man, that fifth inning, and I actually had it. Because in real time or watching it, and you're just like, what is happening? Like, what just happened? And then you start to go play by play, right? Like, obviously, Judge dropping the fly ball, right?
A
That's freakish. That's like a flash knockdown in boxing. Like, how does that even happen?
B
It's. It's. It doesn't. It does. 99, 999 times out of a thousand. It's routine. He probably never drops that ever again. Like. And that sparked just a wild turn of events. And you could. You could feel like. I think I tweeted this out. Like, you could hear a pin drop. It was dead in the end, by the way. The Dodger fans were there. They had a whole section. They were going nuts. I was. I was clapping, you know, like this.
A
But being respectful. You're like, me, respectful cheer.
B
I was respectful. I was respectful. But it was like. And. And then, dude, like, Garrett Cole pitches ass off. Like, this dude is just pitch his ass off. And these airs. And it just. You could feel it. You could almost be like, as a. And I would ask you, you know, as a Yankee fan, you're almost just like, this is like, of course this is what's going to happen to us, you know?
A
Well, yes and no, because I'll tell you from the Yankee point of view, and maybe you could say this up until 2004, but even 2009, that's usually what happens to the other team, right? Usually you're in Yankee. Or at least definitely with the old Yankee Stadium. You know, Jeter always talks about, well, the ghosts will come out eventually and help us. And it used to happen pretty regularly, and it just felt different because this is what usually happens to the other team. I want to ask you this, though. As a professional athlete and a lifetime athlete, do you like. Do you start to feel that meaning, like, what the fuck is happening? Like, if you throw a wide open pass, it just goes through his hands, or you fumble a snap that you've done 4,000 times, you just start feeling like, man, this is just. This is going against us. Like, the forces are against us.
B
Yeah, there's something that is real and that's Just something you can't even explain. It's just a feeling, right? It's. It's like. It's like momentum in sports. Some people like. I don't believe in momentum. I do. It's like, why do we call like. Like, we took this whole conversation about analytics and when and where you should go for. Well, I'm not. Like, you have to feel the momentum of a game. You have to feel the energy of the stadium. Like that. That exists in sports.
A
It does.
B
You can't tell me different. It just does. And now do you think that's going to happen? No. But that judge thing. And then after the judge, it was like, okay, eerie.
A
It was eerie a little bit.
B
It was eerie, but like, okay, then I think. I don't know.
A
Then the Volpe play.
B
Well, no. And then you strike out. Then you strike out. I think Lux. And then you strike out Ohtani. It's two outs.
A
You're out of it.
B
And then it was. Then it was play, which that was like. Then that's when.
A
Which he makes 10 out of 10 times. He's going hard to his right two, third base. It wasn't like he's throwing across his butt now. Easiest play. But for Volpe, that's an easy play.
B
That play was when. Because I think the daughters got one. Or that play was when I. The people around me were like, oh, like, this is not. Like you could feel it. And I'm still thinking like, dude, it's still a. It's still. You still got Garrett Cole. It's five. One. I think it's five nothing. Five, whatever.
A
That was still five. Zero.
B
Okay. And then the Mookie play. And I don't. I mean, look, I. I'm trying to. Look, I know. I think I heard what Cole said.
A
I've looked at it 50 times.
B
Well, what my take is, I was a pitcher always. 100 times. You're always running that way, regardless. And then it's. And then it's Rizzo's job to kind of hold him off and take it if he can get there. I don't. It was the. It was just bizarre. And that was. That was it, dude. And that was when that stadium went silent. Cause now you got Freddie Freeman up, who is just on a. On one two run double. And then T. Oscar goes. Almost goes yard. And then all of a sudden, it's like.
A
And then, you know, you're in a lot of trouble. But the Yankees still found a way to get the lead back, so. Okay, I. And forgive me.
B
I mean, did you watch, I'm assuming.
A
Yankee fans are going to think I'm nuts, and I am nuts. And you know I'm nuts. So I. And I had this plan for a while. I had tickets to, like, the owner suite for Cavs, Lakers, LeBron coming to Cleveland, right? I had that circle on the calendar a month and a half ago. I didn't know that the Yankees are going to be in Game 5. And it was like date night with my wife, and she loves going to games. So we went. The game starts at 7. I did the math. I'll be home by 9:40, probably like the third or fourth inning. And I have my phone. And then in the suite, it's like, the mayor of Cleveland's in there. I sat next to Miles Garrett in the suite, which was amazing. Got to hang with him. And I put the game on on my phone as the Cavs are crushing the Lakers. Put the game on my phone. I saw the Judge home run. I saw. I saw the chip. And I'm like, all right, we got this one. It's over. And what happened on the ride home? Bree drove home so I could watch on my phone. And that's when it all started. And I knew right then and there the Yankees were such a momentum team, like you said. I really think the extended bullpen stuff in game four and basically game being over. But it was over early. The Yankees got, like, free at bats, basically batting practice in game four from the fifth inning. And you saw it. You saw Judge start getting his rhythm, take better pitches. Volpe got hot. You saw it. So I went into game five knowing, okay, we got it now, and there's a chance to get back to LA. And I wasn't excited about seeing Yamamoto in Game 6, but I liked where we were. And they held up. But, man, when Judge dropped that ball, it got eerie. The Volpe thing was even weirder because he's just a stud defensively. The Cole thing with Rizzo, and I've heard everything said, and I've watched it a thousand times at this point. And this is why the Dodgers get a lot of credit. Both Cole and Rizzo could have, if they just reacted fast, could have beat Mookie to the back. But Mookie, oh, for sure. Mookie was running so hard. So I think Cole thought Rizzo had it. I think Rizzo thought Cole was coming. They looked up, and Betts is flying down the first baseline. And I think just. Everyone just shut down. And that is why the Dodgers won this series for pressure and constant, even with The Volpe play. The Volpe play was a little harder because. Because Kiki was running a thousand miles an hour to third base. It was. It made it not routine. And the pressure the Dodgers put on all the weak spots of the Yankees, ultimately, in the end, I think this was the outcome. Even if it got to game six.
B
Well, that. That's. And that's what I. You know, to be honest, to be fair, pretty much everybody has said the Dodgers. I mean, you can't. The Dodgers are the best. The Dodgers were the better team in the Series, plain and simple. You don't win four out of five and say they weren't.
A
Now, Tani didn't even play well, and.
B
Tawny wasn't even a factor.
A
Two hits, I think, or something.
B
Yeah, but when you have opportunity, like, you capitalize and you got it. And they just grind and they're grinders. Like, one through nine is a grinder. Tommy Edmonds, the beast down at the low. Like. And that was a. That was. And also Volpe got hot, but. Well, Verd. Like. Like there were.
A
The bottom of the lineup was not Rizzo.
B
Like. Like, you just. You didn't fear a lot of those guys when you go through the Dodgers lineup. Kiki Hernandez is a postseason killer, and he's batting seven for. Like. Like, you just. There weren't easy matchups. And Gar Cole, we started hitting them a little bit harder there in those last couple innings, but he was grinding. I. I think like, the Dodgers just. This is what they did all year. They. They just. They make it so hard. One through nine, they have bats. They put a lot of pressure on you. And look. And the Yankees just folded. They folded in those moments, and that's what happened.
A
And you saw it with the at bats. You saw now once the momentum goes and it's five. Five Yankees got a little tighter, even though they managed to put up runs. But of course. And this is what separates, to me as a baseball fan, not someone who played baseball at a high level. Dodgers get the bases loaded. They need two fly ball. Give me some fly balls, everyone. They were able to just get the sacrifice flies, those little things. And the Yankees were able to just move the runners along and get the fly ball deep into the outfield to score the run. And the Dodgers did it almost every time.
B
Dude. The eighth inning. I think it was the eighth inning. It was Soto. It was 2, 3, 4. And I think Judge. I don't remember what is. But Stanton is up and you guys were. And Stanton hits a. I think it's On Blake Tron, by the way, shout out to Blake Tron and gave us two and two thirds like beastly innings. And then Buer coming off of two days rest to close. He.
A
Yeah, his stuff was electric when he was.
B
Yeah, it was electric. But this is the thing. John Carlos Stanton, first pitch, swing. I think it was first and second, no outs or whatever. I don't know what it was, but you guys were going in eighth inning and first pitch, just a fly ball. And that's like. It just ruined the whole momentum of that. It's like, yeah, things like, again, first pitch, this guy's a professional hitter, but like you got him on the ropes, like work the count a little bit, work this like, you know what I mean? First pitch and it was just. But to your point, like they just couldn't do the small things to put those runners in those positions. And then credit Dodgers, man, the pitchers battled at the end, you know, dude, it was dicey there, dude, for a little bit.
A
Yeah, the Dodgers are the better team. They deserve to win. There's no sour grapes here. I do say there is a world where I do think probably eight out of ten times. I think this was like the two out of ten time version. Like Dodgers in five with some weird stuff you never see in game five. I think like eight out of ten times. This is a seven game series, meaning I think normally eight out of ten times the Yankees win game one. I think Dodgers win two, three, maybe even four.
B
I think it's. I think it's a six, seven game series.
A
Yeah.
B
Every time. But it just. Look, that was. Amen.
A
Well, and now, of course, let's go. Listen, I think the Dodgers are in great shape, obviously.
B
Oh, we're gonna get Juan Soto too.
A
Come on, dude. What do you mean? There's. Look, there's no way he's going to the Dodgers. There's no way.
B
Shoe Ohtani's deal is cheap.
A
The way I get it, he's making like 3 million bucks. I don't think.
B
You don't think. You don't think. You don't think that Juan Soto wants.
A
He's looking for 10 years. 6,700 million years.
B
700 mil. It's the Dodgers. It doesn't matter. He's not going back to the Yankees.
A
He's either going to the Yankees or sadly enough. And look, no one knows where he's going. So let's. Everyone. I see like polls on Twitter this morning. Where do you think he's going? No one knows. I don't even think he's going to la.
B
New York or New York?
A
I think it's New York and New York. I don't think there's any way you go join. If you're Juan Soto, how do you go join the team that beat you? We've seen this in sports. I don't think he makes that mistake. And by the way, there's more money in New York for him.
B
You want to know how there's more.
A
Money in New York for him?
B
You want to know how? 700. 700 M's how. That's why.
A
And you think. Do you think that the Mets, the richest owner in baseball, is going to back. They might offer him a billion if he could. I think they'd offer him a billion if he could.
B
He wants to win in a World Series. You're not winning a World Series with the Mets. And we just saw what happened here. Yankees.
A
The Mets took the Dodgers to six. Now put Juan Soto on that team. Would you feel, you feel what you say? Dodgers and seven. You don't think Soto swings a game in that Series at all?
B
No.
A
All right. Well, either way, the thing that worries me most going forward with the Yankees say even if they do, let's say they resign. Soto, they may. I think Torres is probably gone. They might move Chisholm the second, who knows, right? Team's going to change a little bit.
B
Chisholm had a great year.
A
He showed up, he came back strong even though they were terrible through three games. But you get back into the playoffs, all you are going to hear, I don't know if it's the World Series and the playoff, all they're going to roll the highlights of the fifth inning for the entire playoffs. Now I don't know if a player, you could just block that out or if that's somewhere in the back of your mind. But there's now ghosts, I think, that are going to be talked about going the other way against the Yankees.
B
Jerry, is that the greatest meltdown in the history of sport that you've ever seen? And by the way, no, not regular season in. In a World Series. Game 5.
A
It's really tough to not acknowledge the Mets, Red Sox. Only because the Red Sox were up three games to two. Matt, they were close. Billy, they're closing out the World Series. They're. They're about to win. They're about to win the World Series. The Yankees were hoping to push it to game six, going back to la. It is a melt for a singular moment, for an inning. It's the biggest meltdown inning because it was five unearned runs. But as far as the biggest meltdown, that you can't say the Yankees win the World Series if they hang on to win Game 5. But if Buckner gets that play, you might be able to say the Red Sox win the world series in 86.
B
Well, I would say given this series and the stage and both teams, it.
A
Was a huge meltdown.
B
Just everything that surrounded Dodgers, Yankees, which we all wanted and Judge be going to be the MVP who had the costly air, which just sucks. I don't know, man. Like, that was.
A
What about. Let me throw you. Let me throw you. Falcons, Patriots, if you're up 28 to 3 in the super bowl, how do you feel about your chance? Or was it 28:3? Or was it 28, 28:3 at halftime? 28:3 at halftime. You got to love your chances there.
B
That's a good one.
A
So that's a pretty good one.
B
Dang.
A
But I think in terms of, like football, it's different because you could maybe say a drive was a meltdown. Like, hey, you get down to the one and you fumble. And with baseball for the one inning, it's for sure the. The most. The biggest meltdown for one inning. But I still think there's a world where the Yankees hang on to win that game and they. Yamamoto wipes them in game six. He had. They haven't touched him all year.
B
No, that's why I feel good about game six.
A
And they've touched them all year.
B
The Yankees after Cole have nobody. So I. Fundamental plays, dude. That's what I'm saying. Like, football's. Football's tough. Like, you need a lot to go and like, you just whatever, but like a routine fly ball that our boys could have caught. Like, if you think about it, like, give our boys. I don't know, dude. I just.
A
That's freaky, man. That's freaky because he took his eyes. I think he checked the runner quick.
B
The Indian before saves. Damn near a home run. Jumping into the. Into the wall. He made one of the greatest play. Like, hey, he's a great player. I. I'm sick for him, man, because I just know in a moment as an athlete, when you are who you are and you. And you have that moment where now that's like, people are probably. People are going to forget about the MVP year and that he's always going to be like, oh, he was great. But, man, remember when he dropped that fly ball in the World Series?
A
Like, but again, that inning is what.
B
Everyone will talk about him forever.
A
But we can't Forget Dodgers tie a 5 5. But then the Yankees go back up and then. I'm sorry, I really don't. I like this guy all playoffs. Kane Lee comes in and just didn't have it.
B
Like, I mean, can we speaker 200 change ups? I mean let's just, let's mix it up, dude, because we're going to sit on that shit.
A
Both bullpens were for sure taxed, so who knows. And like Clay Holmes for a moment there didn't have it. And then he can't. He had one of the biggest strikeout comebacks I think coming back from like 3 0, striking someone out. But then Kane Lee comes in and essentially just put Weaver in an unmanageable situation coming out. The guy just pitched the night before and now bases loaded, no outs and you're, you're facing the die. And look, he got two pop flies.
B
He did.
A
He got two pop flies. The only other better version of that is striking out three in a row, which I don't think any Yankee other than Mariano Rivera in his prime would have had enough to maybe pull that off. So.
B
Listen, it was, it was awesome to be there.
A
I'm glad you were there. It's good.
B
Like it's bucket list. It got to see it. I was a big fan of Yankee Stadium. That place was. I know the old one everyone loved, but this one was cool. I never saw the old one. Baseball, it's over. It was great. My team won. It lived up to the hype and game one was a great game. Game five was a great game. A couple games in there in between weren't so great. But yeah, baby.
A
So we'll end with this because I don't know about you, I, of course I'll. I'll lightly follow the Soto free agency stuff. I think he's coming back to the Yankees, but I know nothing. Just giving you my two cents. I will not think about baseball till like June, until the. Till basketball is over. I will not, you will not hear me talk baseball the rest of the way maybe. Unless Soto does something wild.
B
And so next time we talk baseball, we're going to get, we're going to get one of our daughters on the pod.
A
That's different. If we're going to have a player on for sure I want to talk to in terms of like the fan in me.
B
Oh yeah. No, it's a wrap.
A
The only consolation was I stayed. You want to talk about psycho behavior? I stayed up till 2am because after the Yankees lost, I immediately switched off and I, I wasn't able to watch the Knicks win over the Heat, so I watched the entire Knicks replay versus the Heat. Carl Anthony Towns, 44 and 12. We're back, baby. That's what New Yorkers do. We deflect to the next thing.
B
I have a whole. I have a whole thought on people who rewatch live sports to record it, but we can get.
A
I just legitimately couldn't watch it. I was at a Cavs game and I was watching the World Series. Had no chance of watching the Nick. I didn't watch the whole game. I like sped through key plays. Fourth quarter mainly.
B
So key players.
A
Congrats to the Dodgers.
B
Oh, yeah.
A
We could talk about the fan interference. I mean, that dude did the whole press tour. Of course Gronk knows him. That. That basically is everything you need to know.
B
I know. By the way, the Yankees let. They were going to let him in. MLB said no last night.
A
That's why they should look.
B
I mean, at the end of the day, like, I think people made a light of it, but, like, I love.
A
The spirit and I do think it woke. I do think it maybe added some pep like, oh, this guy's willing to go to jail and lose his $3,000 seats. The least we could do is run a little harder. But yeah, you just can't.
B
You can't do that.
A
That could just lead to so many other bad things. Like fan. We should. And I'm a big believer in fans are a part of the game, but they should not be a part of the actual game. They should be a part of the atmosphere of the game. Don't. Don't. Yeah, I don't. I don't know. I enjoyed all the kind, so I don't really have some hot take. I just. I just don't think this result would have been different, Matt. I really don't feel that bitter about it. I would have loved the game six, but I don't feel that bitter about it.
B
Dude, it's. Hey, listen, man. Two best teams in baseball all year faced off in the World Series. We got. We got an East Coast West Coast. I bought an east coast, west coast shirt last night. I felt like, you know, I needed to memorialize this. I'll be wearing that on the pod next week.
A
Good for the pod that we. I mean, good signs. We got Yankees, Dodgers in. In our, like, seventh episode. Basically. That's a good sign for us.
B
We had. We had our boy swish on talking. It's a. It's awesome, man. But I'm with you, dude. Baseball. It's a wrap. It's time. It's time. We got. We're going second half of football. We got NBA picking up. We got a lot of good coming.
A
I'm curious to see the. The numbers on the world series because I saw some preliminary stuff, but I know the basketball numbers are way down from the. For the debut week, and I. I think that's attributed to being that there's a great world series matchup.
B
They were doing 15 million in Japan alone on top of the 15 million.
A
Good for baseball. Happy this happened.
B
Yeah.
A
Onto basketball. Well, Matt, go get some rand. I know you basically getting ready for big noon, getting fired up. So we'll definitely check you out there.
B
And hey, enjoy Halloween, brother.
A
Oh, yeah, I'm about to go. I'm about to go take 30 kids trick or treating because all of Jacob's cousins are coming here. So I go throw on the zerg costume.
B
Listen, don't be a grinch. Have a smile. It's for the children tonight, okay? It's for the children, all right?
A
Or wuang is for the kids. Wuang is for the children.
B
All right.
A
All right, Maddie, have fun over there Later.
Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode: BONUS POD: Jerry’s Yankees Fall to Matt’s Dodgers in the World Series
Release Date: October 31, 2024
In this special bonus episode of Throwbacks, hosts Jerry Ferrara and Matt Leinart delve into their reactions to the recent World Series where Matt's Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed over Jerry's New York Yankees. This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the pivotal moments that defined the series, personal experiences from the hosts, and reflections on the broader implications for both teams and their fanbases.
Matt shares his firsthand experience attending Game Five of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, an event he had never attended before as a Yankees fan. Flying to New York courtesy of Sinclair, Matt describes the excitement and tension he felt witnessing his Dodgers clinch the championship in an iconic Yankees venue.
"I've never been to Yankee Stadium, but witnessing my team win a World Series there was epic."
— Matt Leinart [00:52]
He recounts a memorable pre-game interaction with baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr., highlighting the camaraderie among players and media personalities present at the game.
"I just shot the shit with Ken Griffey Jr. for about 10 minutes. We were just hanging out."
— Matt Leinart [01:44]
Matt also touches on the emotional significance of the victory, especially for his father, a lifelong Dodgers fan whose love for the team spans generations.
"I FaceTimed my dad right when it happened, and he was shedding a tear. It's special because my family is growing older."
— Matt Leinart [02:30]
Jerry expresses his happiness for Matt's victory while sharing his own sentiments as a Yankees fan. Despite the loss, he emphasizes the enduring magic of baseball and its ability to unite fans across generations.
"Baseball still has that magic. I'm happy for you, Matt."
— Jerry Ferrara [03:38]
Conversely, Jerry admits to feeling sad about the Yankees' loss, reflecting on the team's usual dominance and the unexpected downfall in this series.
"I’m just sad because the Yankees usually come out on top, but this time they hurt themselves."
— Jerry Ferrara [04:07]
A significant turning point discussed is Yankees' Aaron Judge dropping a crucial fly ball, a rare mistake that shifted the momentum towards the Dodgers.
"Judge dropping that fly ball was freakish. It's like a flash knockdown in boxing."
— Matt Leinart [05:17]
Judge's error is examined as an uncommon and impactful moment that contributed to the Dodgers' victory, with Matt questioning how such a routine play could go so wrong.
The hosts dissect the defensive play involving Garan Volpe, highlighting its complexity and the resulting silence in the stadium.
"Volpe’s play was when everyone just shut down. It was eerie."
— Matt Leinart [07:30]
They discuss how Volpe, typically a stud on defense, struggled under pressure, leading to key moments that favored the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts' aggressive play is scrutinized, particularly his relentless running and impactful hits that consistently pressured the Yankees' defense.
"Mookie was running so hard, putting constant pressure on the Yankees."
— Matt Leinart [08:11]
Both hosts delve into the concept of momentum in sports, with Matt affirming its palpable presence during the series.
"You have to feel the momentum of a game. The energy of the stadium exists in sports."
— Matt Leinart [06:54]
Jerry agrees, citing examples from the series where shifts in momentum led to decisive outcomes, such as Garrett Cole's pitching and the Dodgers' grind-through approach.
Jerry discusses the potential repercussions for the Yankees, including changes in team dynamics and player positions. The possibility of acquiring star players like Juan Soto is debated, with Matt expressing skepticism about Soto leaving the Yankees despite rumors.
"Juan Soto wants to win a World Series. He's not going back to the Yankees."
— Matt Leinart [15:42]
The discussion also touches on the psychological impact of Game Five's meltdown inning on the Yankees, possibly haunting the team's future performances.
"That meltdown inning is going to be talked about forever, and it adds ghosts against the Yankees."
— Matt Leinart [16:01]
The hosts compare the World Series meltdown to other historic sports collapses, emphasizing the magnitude of the Yankees' loss in such a crucial game.
"It's the biggest meltdown inning because it was five unearned runs."
— Matt Leinart [17:07]
They also reflect on the Dodgers' consistent performance throughout the series, crediting their ability to capitalize on every opportunity and maintain pressure.
"The Dodgers get a lot of credit because they were the better team in the Series, plain and simple."
— Jerry Ferrara [11:32]
Jerry and Matt discuss the potential impact of the series' high-stakes matchup on baseball viewership, noting initial spikes that are attributed to the compelling East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry.
"Baseball did well with the World Series matchup, doing 15 million in Japan alone on top of the local numbers."
— Jerry Ferrara [24:23]
However, they express concerns about maintaining long-term engagement, especially with the loss among a passionate Yankees fanbase.
As the episode concludes, the hosts exchange light-hearted banter about upcoming events and shifts in their podcast focus towards other sports like football and basketball. Jerry anticipates inviting guests for future baseball discussions, while Matt prepares for the basketball season.
"Next time we talk baseball, we're going to get one of our daughters on the pod."
— Matt Leinart [21:37]
They wrap up with well-wishes for Halloween, highlighting the communal and familial aspects of following sports.
"Enjoy Halloween, brother. It's for the children tonight."
— Matt Leinart [24:41]
"You have to feel the momentum of a game. The energy of the stadium exists in sports."
— Matt Leinart [06:54]
"Judge dropping that fly ball was freakish. It's like a flash knockdown in boxing."
— Matt Leinart [05:17]
"The Dodgers get a lot of credit because they were the better team in the Series, plain and simple."
— Jerry Ferrara [11:32]
This bonus episode of Throwbacks offers a compelling blend of personal anecdotes, expert analysis, and heartfelt reflections on the Dodgers' World Series victory over the Yankees. Jerry Ferrara and Matt Leinart provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the game's critical moments, the emotional rollercoaster of fandom, and the future outlook for both storied franchises. Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan or a casual listener, this episode captures the essence of sportsmanship, rivalry, and the unifying power of baseball.