BSJ Daily Briefing 10.23.18: World Series is here, Celtics ... huh?, Shifting Pats D narrative

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I wonder if the Dodgers are really prepared for the cold they're going to have to play in here.

• The World Series is here and I can't wait. Red Sox-Dodgers. L.A.-Boston. Fenway Park-Chavez Ravine. Chris Sale-Clayton Kershaw. Dave Roberts-Alex Cora. Manny Machado. The white uniforms of the Dodgers with the blue writing and red number on the front. The Red Sox' classic home uniforms. Love it. This is a real baseball series and long overdue.


• Seriously, the Red Sox better be wearing their classic white uniforms this weekend. Screw the red tops. Put them in mothballs until spring training.


• I have no problem playing Mookie Betts at second base in LA, if the Sox need the offense after the two games. If freaking Travis Shaw can turn two in the NLCS, then Betts sure as shoot can.


• Actually, the position I'd play Betts is third base, if needed. Betts is an elite athlete with a rocket for an arm, elite reaction time and he wouldn't do any worse than what they've had there.


• I'm going Red Sox in six games. I long ago turned the controls over to Cora. The guy can do no wrong this year. Plus, just like Cora and bullpen coach Craig Bjornson had the inside dirt on the Astros, hitting coach Tim Hyers knows the Dodgers just as well.


• BTW, if you would have told Winter 2003 me the Red Sox would be favored to win their fourth World Championship since then, I would have told you that you're just being a mean a-hole.


• I know it's early, but how in the heck do the Celtics lose at home to the Magic? How are they that bad at shooting?


• Love when I'm called a troll for pointing out facts like the Patriots over the past seven or nine games (take your pick) are on pace to be the worst points-allowed defense under Bill Belichick, and among the worst in franchise history. Sorry for the facts.


• By the way, if the Patriots throw a shutout on Monday night against the Bills (entirely possible), they'll still be on pace to be Belichick's worst defense through eight games. That's not an insignificant sample size.


• In recent years, when the media pointed out how terrible the Patriots were at giving up total yards and getting off the field (often, ultimately, rightfully so), we were told, "Yards don't matter, points do." And it was a valid point. The Patriots were good in the red zone and after turnovers, so they limited the damage. But now we can't use points with a half-season sample size. Ok, got it.


• You're free to hide your head in the sand and say, "Well, no one plays defense anymore." But I don't want to hear it. That isn't what this is about. This is about a veteran group that has played a lot of football together giving up a ton of big plays and uncontested touchdowns — which have nothing to do with the rules or the league office.


• Plus, I've seen the Patriots play excellent defense this season against one of the better offenses they've played to date (Miami). Why aren't they more consistent doing that? That's the issue.