Tuesday Open Thread

Got some former Yankee news to pass along: Hiroki Kuroda is retiring! He made the announcement today. “The Japan Series will be the end. I’ve decided to hang it up,” he told Kyodo News. “I’ve been shown an excellent dream with an excellent team. And now I want to go out with a smile on my face, all of us celebrating a championship pouring beer on each other.”

Kuroda, now 41, had a 3.09 ERA in 24 starts and 151.2 innings for the Hiroshima Carp earlier this season. He won his 200th professional game a few weeks ago. The Carp, who hadn’t made the postseason since 1991, are playing Shohei Otani’s Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japan Series, which begins this weekend. Give ’em hell, Hiroki. He was a damn good Yankee.

Anyway, here is today’s open thread. I’m posting it a little earlier than usual because there are two postseason games today. Last day this season we’re guaranteed two games, you know. Here’s the schedule:

• ALCS Game Four: Indians at Blue Jays (Kluber vs. Sanchez), 4pm ET on TBS (Indians up 3-0)
• NLCS Game Three: Cubs at Dodgers (Arrieta vs. Hill), 8pm ET on FOX Sports (Series tied 1-1)

The Islanders and Devils are also playing tonight, if you’re looking for some non-baseball entertainment. Talk about those games, Kuroda’s retirement, or anything else right here.