It’s Saturday, October 3rd. and this is the Fall Frenzy 2026 update. Which means that the MLB playoffs are now down to 8 teams; having finished the Wild Card round (which inspired the nomenclature).
I got three of four of my picks correct. And, true to form – the team that won the first game won the series.
So now, there are 16 possible World Series match-ups. Of which I’ve made a matrix.
My Analysis
My Analysis has shifted somewhat, after the Wild Card round. Because I now see the Yankees as the legitimate favorite to win the championship. Because they are the best team. Going in, I saw only problems. What with Aaron Judge being out and the lineup disorganized. However, the manager, Aaron Boone, turned that around brilliantly to bring the team together with a winning esprit de corps.
The team has found an identity that is a winning formula sans their captain Judge. The formula is fundamental baseball.* Before of which they lacked, because they relied too much on Judge’s mythical power – that his home run prowess would provide victory.
That said, if the Yankees do get beat, then any National League team will beat any American League team.
The numbers in the matrix’s squares are the probability of the 16 possible match-ups. One being the most likely on down to sixteen being the least.
The Yankee / Rays game today is the prime time featured game at 6:30 EST on TBS. All four series’ games are broadcast live today. I can’t wait. I love baseball the most! And the Fall Frenzy 2026 looks to the best yet.
- Fundamental baseball is good pitching, good defense, running the bases well, stealing bases, timely (clutch) hitting, bunting, moving runners over. And of course–confidence and belief in each other.
Man oh man did I get that wrong. The New York Yankees made 5 errors in Tuesday’s game giving the Rays a 2-zip advantage in the best of five series. More un-fundamental baseball is hard to imagine in a “must win” game. Moreover, all my predictions seem suspect now. The one thing I’ve gotten right is that baseball is unpredictable. And that’s what makes it SO exciting; but also hart breaking. Thank goodness I’m not a gambler..
Sunday, October 11. Down to 4 now. Boy did I guess wrong. I’ve only one team left – the LA Dodgers. Still alive is the Brewers (National league); and Rays and Guardians in the American league. Dodgers win along with the Rays. We’ll see.