The Astros won their first World Series in franchise history last night after defeating the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7, wrapping up what was a "thrilling matchup between two evenly matched opponents that will still go down as one of the most memorable World Series ever staged," according to Jared Diamond of the WALL STREET JOURNAL (11/2). In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes this World Series was "especially compelling: two games were decided by one run, three by two runs and another was tied in the ninth inning before a late scoring flurry." The sides also "combined for a record 25 home runs" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/2). USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes this was a "compelling World Series that will be remembered for an awfully long time." Astros manager A.J. Hinch said, "What this Series has done with the sport is hopefully have people around the country that just appreciated the emotion that's in our game, the youthfulness that's in our game, the drama that's come with this series" (USA TODAY, 11/2). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes under the header, "Astros Win A Classic World Series" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/2). Also in Boston, Chad Jennings writes this was "one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory." This is the kind of Fall Classic that "happens when the very best teams survive the playoff crapshoot" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/2). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth asks, "Was this the greatest seven-game World Series ever played?" Time "will tell, but Games 2 and 5 can fall into an all-time Top 10 without a lot of argument" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/2). THE RINGER's Ben Lindbergh writes this World Series "cracked the top 10 of all time in excitement and trailed the leaders only because" the Astros' "hold was too tight in Game 7" (THERINGER.com, 11/2).
GAME 7 DOESN'T MATCH HYPE: In N.Y., Joel Sherman writes this World Series was "filled with close games and drama and tension and everything that set the stage for Game 7 to be wondrous," but last night's contest "disappointed." Astros CF George Springer "fueled an early barrage against a beleaguered" Dodgers P Yu Darvish that "brought a five-run lead two innings into the game, from which the Dodgers never recovered" (N.Y. POST, 11/2). On Long Island, David Lennon writes under the header, "Astros-Dodgers Provided Epic Series, Until Game 7." With everyone at Dodger Stadium "anticipating a fantastic finish to this highly entertaining World Series, seeing the Astros quickly sprint ahead had a numbing effect on the crowd." This was "not what we imagined at all." Through the first six games, five had been "decided by two runs or fewer" and two games "involved a one-run margin, both of those won in extra innings" (NEWSDAY, 11/2). The AP's Paul Newberry writes after "six stellar games," the World Series "finally ran out of magic." Newberry: "The last game of the season was a total bomb" (AP, 11/2). The AP's Ben Walker writes, "For a Series that was shaping up as an October classic, Game 7 quickly became a November clunker" (AP, 11/2).
KEEPING FUN IN THE GAME: The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson while Game 7 "lacked the heart-stopping swings that had characterized" the rest of the series, it did "stick to some of the themes that defined this absurdly fun baseball postseason -- and which may have fundamentally altered the sport." A record 25 home runs were hit during the World Series, which "served to draw attention to one of baseball's weird subplots: a dramatic spike in home runs that began in the second half of the 2015 and has kept rising." Meanwhile, there were numerous "enthusiastic home run celebrations," and while there was a "bit of grousing ... it seems significant that there was no beanball retaliation for all the hooting and hollering" (NATIONALPOST.com, 11/2). THE ATLANTIC's Robert O'Connell writes MLB for the past week "was at the center of the sports world, the subject of every morning’s bleary-eyed talk." O'Connell: "These seven games proved that baseball can rival any sport for sheer excitement, especially when the players let themselves show it" (THEATLANTIC.com, 11/2).
ALIVE AND THRIVING: FS1's Kevin Burkhardt said the country got "sweeped up in baseball again" during the postseason, and the interest level in the World Series "was amazing" ("World Series on FS1 Postgame Show," 11/2). FS1’s Jason Whitlock said the past two World Series have "made me rethink my position on baseball in terms of, ‘Oh, it's dead, it's passed its prime.’" He said, "The tickets are through the roof. The attendance for baseball -- people love going to the games. Baseball's death has been greatly exaggerated, and I think the last two years have really proven it.” FS1’s Nick Swisher said, “The one thing you can take away from this World Series is non-baseball fans are interested in our game. That is an amazing thing to have” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 11/1).
