baseball playoffs

[chaddurbin]

nfl may be #1, nba have the most visible stars, hockey is trying to stay relevant...but i'm a baseball fan from way back and this is the best time of the year! let the crapshoot-ness begins...

some observations:

--injuries have probably ended clev and wash years.
--jake arrieta turned back into a pumpkin (i'm probably still sore abt him winning CY over kershaw and greinke)
--the cubs are the overwhelming favs so that means they probably won't win
--by the metrics bos is the best AL team and should make it to WS...but tex have home field WTF
--rooting for blue jays over balt so we have more international incidents
--f*** the giants and those BATs( bay area tools)
--finally LET'S GO DODGERS~!

[bravos4evr]

due to the influx of teams into the playoffs (first with the wildcard and now 2 wildcard teams per league) the playoffs are becoming more and more of a crapshoot than ever before. Predicting the winner is pretty tough.

best teams would probably be Boston vs Cubs

result will probably be something screwy like Cleveland vs Giants

[Peter_Spaeth]

I fear the Indians of Cleveland.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

due to the influx of teams into the playoffs (first with the wildcard and now 2 wildcard teams per league) the playoffs are becoming more and more of a crapshoot than ever before. Predicting the winner is pretty tough.

best teams would probably be Boston vs Cubs

result will probably be something screwy like Cleveland vs Giants

Even year -- it's Giants time again. And the addition of Cueto sure doesn't hurt.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Even year -- it's Giants time again. And the addition of Cueto sure doesn't hurt.

true, but their bats are pretty lousy and their pen sketchy.... IDK, I like the Indians team, but if Texas gets good pitching from their top 3,(or if they meet the Red Sox in the ALCS) their massive offense could get them in. (seriously, a Rangers vs Red Sox ALCS would be 8-7 every night!)

[chaddurbin]

I think giants get past NY but no way their even year magic will escape the cubs curse... That narrative is more powerful this year and the cubs patient lineup will wear out sf starters and get to the weak Giants bullpen.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

I think giants get past NY but no way their even year magic will escape the cubs curse... That narrative is more powerful this year and the cubs patient lineup will wear out sf starters and get to the weak Giants bullpen.

this makes perfect baseball sense except... Cubs.

They will find way to Cubs it up again.BUT.......maybe not, hell the Red Sox finally won right?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I am mourning a very unCardinals-like season by the Cardinals.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

--f*** the giants and those BATs( bay area tools)
--finally LET'S GO DODGERS~!

Haha... I thought we were supposed dislike you SoCal'ers, and you were just supposed to not care. Regardless, I also love the MLB post season, and love that the Giants v Dodgers passion is alive and well!

Go Giants!!... and "Don't look at me!"

(not for a second taking the Mets for granted, that's a gonna be great game on Wed... but if the Giants can get by the NYM, I love the match up vs the Cubs)

[chaddurbin]

Nothing personal Ian, just baseball

[bbcardzman]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I am mourning a very unCardinals-like season by the Cardinals.

++++1

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I am mourning a very unCardinals-like season by the Cardinals.

unCardinals-like season?

They finished 86-76. Sure they finished in 2nd place in the NL and didn't make the playoffs, but that doesn't mean they didn't play to their normal standards.

2006: 83-78
2007: 78-84
2008: 86-76
2009: 91-71
2010: 86-76
2010: 90-72
2012: 88-74
2013: 97-65
2014: 90-72
2015: 100-62

They seemed very inline with the last 10 years.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

unCardinals-like season?

They finished 86-76. Sure they finished in 2nd place in the NL and didn't make the playoffs, but that doesn't mean they didn't play to their normal standards.

2006: 83-78
2007: 78-84
2008: 86-76
2009: 91-71
2010: 86-76
2010: 90-72
2012: 88-74
2013: 97-65
2014: 90-72
2015: 100-62

They seemed very inline with the last 10 years.

I was referring more to their relatively at least for them starting pitching and not very reliable infield defense this year. It got very frustrating to watch.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[KCRfan1]

Best game of the post season may be Wednesday night with Bumgarner and Syndergaard. That game may turn out 1-0 with no more than 5 hits for each team.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

unCardinals-like season?

They finished 86-76. Sure they finished in 2nd place in the NL and didn't make the playoffs, but that doesn't mean they didn't play to their normal standards.

2006: 83-78
2007: 78-84
2008: 86-76
2009: 91-71
2010: 86-76
2010: 90-72
2012: 88-74
2013: 97-65
2014: 90-72
2015: 100-62

They seemed very inline with the last 10 years.

There were also a lot of frustrating instances of outfielders throwing to the wrong base and just not being very fundamentally sound.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[KCRfan1]

I thought the same thing Robert. The Cards record is somewhat in line, but the fundamental playmaking seemed to be missing this year. But look at me, a Royals fan talking. We have some issues to tend to this off season. GM says KC will have to cut back on payroll ( living beyond their means ), and it's unlikely the team will be able to sign Hosmer longterm.

Well, never mind the income generated from the AS game in 2012, and post season appearances the past two seasons, and getting to the Series. Not sure where THAT money went????

Apparently the $$$ went to pay Gordon. If the GM spent money that could have been used to sign Hosmer, this was a very bad mistake. The same could be said for the $$$ used to sign Kennedy.

Unless Moore was told directly from Hosmer that he will not sign. Appears that 2017 will be Hosmer's last season in KC....

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

Nothing personal Ian, just baseball

Totally, I'm just playing too.

I went to school in SLO, front lines in the N CA vs SoCal tussle. It was re-affirmed to me over and over that we caredway more than you guys about all of it-- the water, the sports, and our general "Beat LA!" mentality, which sort of made us come across as up tight and insecure... while you guys typically seemed too involved doing other fun things to be bothered by the rivalry. Jim Rome (SoCal native, school in SB) further reinforces this POV occasionally on his show.

So with this said, I love it when things flare up a bit, and there some fire coming from So Cal. The Bum vs Puig thing is ridiculous but marvelous at the same time. The Dodgers' T-shirts were funny as hell, but then the Giants swept LA response. Was at Friday's game, Posey got knocked down then brushed back in the same AB, and Belt got drilled. It's been intense between the teams, and great theater all year. Oh man, I so want an LA vs SF NLCS.

[irv]

EDWIN!!

The Texas series is going to be a gooder, I think?!?!

[chaddurbin]

Epic first game, I think tex was rooting for Baltimore.

Madbum vs Noah should be a classic if Thor shows up... U know Madbum is gonna bring it and he will render the Mets lefties useless granderson Bruce loney etc.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

I thought the same thing Robert. The Cards record is somewhat in line, but the fundamental playmaking seemed to be missing this year. But look at me, a Royals fan talking. We have some issues to tend to this off season. GM says KC will have to cut back on payroll ( living beyond their means ), and it's unlikely the team will be able to sign Hosmer longterm.

Well, never mind the income generated from the AS game in 2012, and post season appearances the past two seasons, and getting to the Series. Not sure where THAT money went????

Apparently the $$$ went to pay Gordon. If the GM spent money that could have been used to sign Hosmer, this was a very bad mistake. The same could be said for the $$$ used to sign Kennedy.

Unless Moore was told directly from Hosmer that he will not sign. Appears that 2017 will be Hosmer's last season in KC....

I agree. Hosmer would have been better money spent than Gordon. When you're a mid-market team, like KC and StL, there is only so much $ to go around. Therein lies the importance of a solid farm system to produce the players.

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[itjclarke]

Wow, MadBum is just unreal. Have seen the stat folks pick apart his game a bit, but he's so much more than his stats. This includes the total confidence he projects to the rest of the team in these otherwise super high pressure ballgames.

I also hear the "W" doesn't matter anymore, and am guessing Thor's FIP or WAR or whatever was better than Bum tonight (based on K's), but one guy goes 7 and leaves after 105 pitches (nice game)... one guys goes 120 pitches and rips that W. In October, I'll take the second guy anytime.

Go Giants!!

108 double stitches in a baseball, 108 years since the Cubs last World Series parade. Chicago in a walk.

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I agree. Hosmer would have been better money spent than Gordon. When you're a mid-market team, like KC and StL, there is only so much $ to go around. Therein lies the importance of a solid farm system to produce the players.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Agreed.

Unfortunantly, KC has wiffed on their first and second round picks during the past 15 much more than hit on them.

Teams with market size like KC has got to nail those draft picks.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Agreed.

Unfortunantly, KC has wiffed on their first and second round picks during the past 15 much more than hit on them.

Teams with market size like KC has got to nail those draft picks.

I disagree, well, maybe you shouldn't have given Gordon that contract, but replacing Hosmer won't be difficult as finding a power hitting 1b is generally the easiest position to fill in MLB. I believe your team's issues have more to do with a down seasons as much as anything. If Moustakas, Hosmer, Gordon have career avg seasons, you probably make the wildcard. The pitching was decent, (around league avg) but the bats all seemed to have down seasons at the same time, it happens.

[KCRfan1]

We will have to agree to disagree.

Hosmer is entering prime years, and will not come cheap. He is a difficult fill due to that. Those guys aren't falling around like leaves from a tree. Maybe they do where you live but not here.

KC has a lot of "if's" that need to be met each season for things to go right.

Gordon by far is the easier fill in terms of expense and production compared with Hosmer.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

We will have to agree to disagree.

Hosmer is entering prime years, and will not come cheap. He is a difficult fill due to that. Those guys aren't falling around like leaves from a tree. Maybe they do where you live but not here.

KC has a lot of "if's" that need to be met each season for things to go right.

Gordon by far is the easier fill in terms of expense and production compared with Hosmer.

he was below replacement level in 2016 and about avg with the bat, sure he will probably improve on that a tad, but there are a lot of guys out there like Brandon Moss, Adam Lind, Mitch Moreland...etc that could be had for very little $$$ and free the team up to trade Hosmer before he leaves in free agency.

[KCRfan1]

Kind of done with players at the end of a career. Really don't build around those guys.

Good role players but hardly what you want every day.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Kind of done with players at the end of a career. Really don't build around those guys.

Good role players but hardly what you want every day.

Hosmer in 2016 was kinda like that too tho.

I'm not saying "build around" those guys, but if you admit that it's probably time for a rebuild f some sort, moving Hosmer for a prospect would help and one of the guys I mentioned could fill in for a year or two. Then you can either try to keep Moustakas and some of the others or move them for prospects too before they are free agents, that frees up payroll and would allow you to make some moves after 2018 and be ready to compete again 2019 and forward.

[itjclarke]

Cub fans, win or lose, it's gonna be a really exciting and fun week. Can't wait for tomorrow!

(these pics are in no way being presumptuous about this year... just really love them)
IMG_2377.jpgIMG_2376.jpg


Will add--- after seeing the Royals up close in 2014 and 2015, I think Hosmer is a guy that's more valuable than the stats show. He plays with some serious fire (and balls), and think that is infectious in a club house. His dash home against the Mets is something that few guys have the situational wherewithal to consider, and fewer have the nuts to attempt. I'd be sad to see him leave. I love the heart/fire those Royals teams played with.

[david_l]

Did Dickey get left off of the Jays postseason roster?

[jb217676]

Dickey was left of the playoff roster. I also think the Rangers left there brains off their playoff roster from what I've seen today. Sweet!

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Dickey was left of the playoff roster. I also think the Rangers left there brains off their playoff roster from what I've seen today. Sweet!

Rangers are an odd team, you rarely win 95 games while posting only a +8 run differential. Lots of comebacks and close wins matched up with several times being blown out. I have no idea what to make of them!

[david_l]

Too bad Dickey was left off. I still love watching him pitch. Today seems like it would of been the perfect day for Dickey to pitch four or five innings and save Estrada a little bit of work.

[smallpaul2002]

Blue Jays are the sleeper team in this years playoffs, have very good starting pitching, and a roster that can score runs..got knocked out by KC last season in the ALCS, They have been playing playoff baseball for about 2 weeks now, and hooked most of the best in the AL east down the stretch, needless to say I think the soft finish the Rangers had, and the layoff, had an impact on the Rangers. 1 game does not make a series, but if things do not change quickly for them , it will be over quickly...It is almost like the "wild card" teams are at an advantage because they play every day, where division winners suffer from a long layoff..One thing is certain, it will be an electric atmosphere at Rogers centre in Toronto when the Jays arrive home (by the way the beer can tosser was arrested and charged today)

[Joshchisox08]

Pulling for the Indians or Blue Jays this year. Just anyone but Boston or the Scrubs PLEASE!

[MCoxon]

Originally Posted by Joshchisox08

Pulling for the Indians or Blue Jays this year. Just anyone but Boston or the Scrubs PLEASE!

Mission accomplished for one night. We'll have to see if it continues today.

[irv]

Originally Posted by david_l

Too bad Dickey was left off. I still love watching him pitch. Today seems like it would of been the perfect day for Dickey to pitch four or five innings and save Estrada a little bit of work.

I am the opposite. I fret everytime Dickey pitches and I am glad he got left off the roster.
Great pitcher when he is on but unfortunately he wasn't on enough this year.

Originally Posted by Joshchisox08

Pulling for the Indians or Blue Jays this year. Just anyone but Boston or the Scrubs PLEASE!

Same. Hoping Indians get by Boston and of course the Jay's by Texas. Both are looking pretty good so far but it's a long ways to go yet before the fat lady sings. Fingers crossed!

[1952boyntoncollector]

Smart for Toles to get the Start for Game 1 for the Dodgers...which = WIN

[irv]

SWEEP!!!

What a game!

[smallpaul2002]

Jays pulled off the sweep, and I for one would love to see them play the Indians. It would be nice too see a couple of the small market teams battle it out in the ALCS. Blue Jays offence has come to life and as a Jays fan the team could not have picked a better time to get things rolling. As stated before, this clubs starting pitching staff is vastly under rated by sports media and now everyone gets a chance to see how well they have pitched this season. Jays will have a nice break before the next series kicks off, and the rest is needed after all the tough games they have played over the past few weeks down the stretch. Baseball is a great game to follow, especially when your favourite team is participating in the playoffs...Go Jays Go.

[chaddurbin]

have no rooting interest in the AL, but would love to see clev/tor also. actually carlos santana was a dodgers prospect at one point so i've always kept up to see how he's doing so go clev i guess (plus tor has a reputation of questioning every strike called against them, like the clippers of the nba). i'm also tired of david ortiz, it's like every borderline all star/hof caliber guy is getting a year-long farewell tour now. (/hot takes alert)

[itjclarke]

Giants didn't get the split I was hoping for in Chi, but can't to see what should be another amazing matchup tonight. Doesn't get much better than Bum vs Arrietta in a possible elimination game.

[clydepepper]

I'm pulling for the Cubs to win it all...after all, can't we let that happen after 108 years?


.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

I'm pulling for the Cubs to win it all...after all, can't we let that happen after 108 years?


.

It would be fun to see and they are easily the best team, but man.... I just get the feeling that they will Cubs it up and be left holding the bag another year.

[almostdone]

I feel the same way. I think if it was any of the other 29 teams that had that type of team and season we wouldn't have that quiet lingering doubt but since it's the Cubs....

Drew

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

It would be fun to see and they are easily the best team, but man.... I just get the feeling that they will Cubs it up and be left holding the bag another year.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath. I invested myself into the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Cubs fans are mostly scar tissue. - George Will

[tschock]

Did anyone on the east coast other than myself actually stay up to watch the end of the Cubs-Giants game last night?

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by tschock

Did anyone on the east coast other than myself actually stay up to watch the end of the Cubs-Giants game last night?

Yeah, way to go Cubs. Tie it up in the 9th and lose it in the 13th.

Should have just lost it in the 9th and I could have gotten two extra hours of sleep.

[tschock]

As a Giants fan, I am not sad at the outcome. Nor am I surprised anymore by how they win or lose. I guess you probably view the Cubs the same way. LOL

My better half did say when it was tied after nine, it was going to go 13 innings.

[Peter_Spaeth]

And Clayton for two more playoff games chalks up a 6.17 ERA. And once again implodes in the 7th, although he had some help after he left. The post season continues, IMO, to be a huge black mark on his otherwise astonishing career.