heads up play - zero controversy

Justin Dean did exactly what a locked-in outfielder is supposed to do. In the ninth of Game 6, the ball was plainly stuck at the base of the wall—no spin, no roll, no play to be made. Throwing a paw at it risks a misplay, a kick into live territory, or an argument about whether it was ever truly lodged. Signaling immediately for a ground-rule double is the smart, professional move: freeze the chaos, alert the crew, and let the rulebook do its job. The umpires did, and they got it right. Toronto’s park ground rules (and standard MLB language) are clear: a ball that becomes wedged or stuck is two bases. Full stop.

The “controversy” is noise—mostly a cocktail of Blue Jays frustration and losing tickets howling into the timeline. If the shoe were on the other foot, those same voices would be praising the awareness. Credit Dean for thinking fast, not grandstanding.

Now we get a Game 7, as it should be. The atmosphere will be electric, the benches tight, and every pitch a referendum. Dodgers -148 feels rich given the pitching context and how thin the edges have been all series, but that’s the tax you pay for the bigger brand and deeper lineup. Buckle up.