I’m still wired up, lots of good analysis here.
Contreras is the most important player in the series because the Rays win by being aggressive and he’s the one who turned that aggressiveness into outs. The dude is on some kind of a mission, playing at a level that few ever reach. 2025 Ohtani level of impact on the game.
Cash comments suggest a weird sort of confidence to me — like this is another Cleveland series where they are untroubled by falling behind as long as they have the paper advantage later in the series. The lack of the Booser move suggests they had committed to using low leverage relief — basically a punt game. It’s like the anti-Padres pitching strategy. I’m fascinated by it.