Guardians!

[bk400]

I've always been a fan of Steven Kwan -- the guy plays the game right. How fun are the Guardians to watch? I also like their broadcast team. They're a throwback club, and it's kind of hard to not like them.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Kwan is a very likable player. I love Vogt as a manager too. I'm pulling for them over all the other AL teams at this point

[jayshum]

Cleveland now 1 game up and has the tiebreaker after beating the Tigers again tonight. It would definitely be an epic collapse for Detroit if they blow a 15.5 game lead in the division. They could still hold on to a wild card if Houston keeps losing.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Cleveland now 1 game up and has the tiebreaker after beating the Tigers again tonight.

The Cleveland Indians were my favourite American League team for nearly fifty years but they were taken from me over three years ago. I can't abide the replacement Cleveland Guardians. With the Oakland Athletics now also a thing of the past, the Detroit Tigers have become my favourite AL team.

Originally Posted by jayshum

It would definitely be an epic collapse for Detroit if they blow a 15.5 game lead in the division. They could still hold on to a wild card if Houston keeps losing.

An unbelievable collapse! Worse even than the one in 2009 when they blew a seven game lead over the Twins with 26 to play.

[todeen]

Love the Guardians myself. Manzardo is a local boy who played ball with my boss's son. She has gone to Seattle multiple times to watch him play.

I grew up in Montana cheering for multiple teams, Cleveland being one of them. I ended up picking all losers except for CLE. The others are SEA, CINCY, COL, MINN. Cleveland has provided me the most joy, although I don't collect them. 1995, 1997, and 2016 were all heart breakers. I think I cried in 1997 as an 11yo boy. I was watching 2016 game 7 in a bar, probably the only CLE fan there. I left during the rain delay, put the game on the radio at home, and listened to the Cubs win I absolutely hate how that rain delay changed the momentum of the game after Rajai Davis' HR.

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[bk400]

Originally Posted by todeen

Love the Guardians myself. Manzardo is a local boy who played ball with my boss's son. She has gone to Seattle multiple times to watch him play.

I grew up in Montana cheering for multiple teams, Cleveland being one of them. I ended up picking all losers except for CLE. The others are SEA, CINCY, COL, MINN. Cleveland has provided me the most joy, although I don't collect them. 1995, 1997, and 2016 were all heart breakers. I think I cried in 1997 as an 11yo boy. I was watching 2016 game 7 in a bar, probably the only CLE fan there. I left during the rain delay, put the game on the radio at home, and listened to the Cubs win I absolutely hate how that rain delay changed the momentum of the game after Rajai Davis' HR.

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Awesome background. I always hope that the Guardians do well, as I have an affinity for Cleveland as a city. And man, Kwan and Ramirez and frankly everyone in the lineup that I've seen (admittedly, I only watch 5-10 Guardians games a season). How can you not love how those guys play the game.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by bk400

Awesome background. I always hope that the Guardians do well, as I have an affinity for Cleveland as a city. And man, Kwan and Ramirez and frankly everyone in the lineup that I've seen (admittedly, I only watch 5-10 Guardians games a season). How can you not love how those guys play the game.

Losing two relievers, and Clase being one of the best, it makes me wonder how far they can run through the playoffs. But for the first time in ages, Seattle looks like this might be the year. And maybe, just maybe, the Reds squeeze into the playoffs, but I can't see them going far. They can get very very cold bats when it's absolutely the worst time to go cold.

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[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by todeen

Losing two relievers, and Clase being one of the best, it makes me wonder how far they can run through the playoffs. But for the first time in ages, Seattle looks like this might be the year. And maybe, just maybe, the Reds squeeze into the playoffs, but I can't see them going far. They can get very very cold bats when it's absolutely the worst time to go cold.

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As a fan, how do you feel about Clase purposely throwing Balls in order to get some extra cash for his buddies?

[todeen]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

As a fan, how do you feel about Clase purposely throwing Balls in order to get some extra cash for his buddies?

As a fan? It's sad that his teammates kept their mouths shut. At least 1 additional person in the clubhouse should have known what was going on, even if it was an interpreter, or gear manager, or someone. And Clase was an idiot for doing it repeatedly. I believe there are allegations that he made 10+ pitches that could be considered evidence against him. yikes!

As someone who doesn't gamble.... everyone in baseball saw this coming. Sadly, it won't be the last. But, it's just further proof that the US Congress is failing to regulate commerce in the NCAA and gambling. So many people are calling out notice that prop bets / microbetting on individual plays and players will lead to greater occurrence of incidents like this.

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[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by todeen

Love the Guardians myself.

Originally Posted by bk400

I always hope that the Guardians do well, as I have an affinity for Cleveland as a city.

I like the city of Cleveland a lot because of its geographic location. I took a couple of weekend jaunts from London to Cleveland in 1982 because Saturday-Sunday return airfare from London to Cleveland by Eastern Air was only $30! I stayed at Jim Swingo's Hotel and took in the shows at Stage Door Johnny's as well as watching Indians' games at Municipal Stadium.

But I can't abide the Guardians now because their existence is a constant reminder of the loss of my beloved Indians and thus constitutes a raw wound.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I like the city of Cleveland a lot because of its geographic location. I took a couple of weekend jaunts from London to Cleveland in 1981 because return airfare from London to Cleveland by Eastern Air were only $30! I stayed at Jim Swingo's Hotel and took in the shows at Stage Door Johnny's as well as watching Indians' games at Municipal Stadium.

But I can't abide the Guardians now because their existence is a constant reminder of the loss of my beloved Indians and thus constitutes a raw wound.

It's just a name change. At least they didn't move cities on you.

[jayshum]

Tigers clinched at least a wild card with their win today so even if they blow the division, they managed to get into the playoffs.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Tigers clinched at least a wild card with their win today so even if they blow the division, they managed to get into the playoffs.

The expanded playoff field generates some interest around this time, but let's face it: some of the teams that will get in are not playoff teams.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

The expanded playoff field generates some interest around this time, but let's face it: some of the teams that will get in are not playoff teams.

Hard to know what the Tigers are. They were a playoff team for the first 5 months of the season before falling apart. You never know what will happen once you get to the playoffs.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

The expanded playoff field generates some interest around this time, but let's face it: some of the teams that will get in are not playoff teams.

CLE, CINCY, NYM, DET.... crazy teams bumbling into the playoffs. I don't know what to make of CLE especially.

DET was my preseason pick for WS Champs. They looked amazing last year. Maybe they catch fire again.

MIL? Average Joe's, what's not to like, but I can't support them until the Reds falter. WA fans are calling for a Seattle vs MIL WS so that there can be perfect symmetry in the world.... or something like that.

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[bk400]

And a card...Steven Kwan's first card -- 2019 Lynchburg.

[JLange]

I love my Cleveland Guardians! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a hit-by-pitch walk-off to make the postseason before! Crazy way to enter the playoffs. October baseball gonna be fun!

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Tigers clinched at least a wild card with their win today so even if they blow the division, they managed to get into the playoffs.

Oh wow.

Originally Posted by jayshum

Hard to know what the Tigers are. They were a playoff team for the first 5 months of the season before falling apart. You never know what will happen once you get to the playoffs.

The owner/president/manager needs to give the Tigers a real ass kicking. The only way the Tigers can now make up for their late season collapse is to win the World Series.

[BobbyStrawberry]

It kinda kills the drama on the AL side when everyone is already in the playoffs. Tigers aren't even pitching Skubal today like they planned.

Reds and Mets is a fun nail-biter, though.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

It kinda kills the drama on the AL side when everyone is already in the playoffs. Tigers aren't even pitching Skubal today like they planned.

Reds and Mets is a fun nail-biter, though.

Yankees and Blue Jays has some drama since one team will be the top seed with home field and a bye and the other has to play a wild card series on Tuesday.

[jayshum]

Tigers lose so Guardians win the division. They now play each other in a best of 3.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Tigers lose so Guardians win the division. They now play each other in a best of 3.

Won't the Yankees play the Tigers?

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Won't the Yankees play the Tigers?

No, 1st and 2nd wild card teams play each other and 3rd wild card plays division winner with worst record of the three division winners, so Tigers-Guardians and Yankees-Red Sox.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

No, 1st and 2nd wild card teams play each other and 3rd wild card plays division winner with worst record of the three division winners, so Tigers-Guardians and Yankees-Red Sox.

And yet they're deciding the division winners based on head-to head record, rather than having a playoff.

The whole thing is wild. Those are two crazy first round matchups.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

And yet they're deciding the division winners based on head-to head record, rather than having a playoff.

The whole thing is wild. Those are two crazy first round matchups.

I don't like using tie breakers to decide the divisions but with the longer wild card series, there's not enough time to play an extra game.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I don't like using tie breakers to decide the divisions but with the longer wild card series, there's not enough time to play an extra game.

Well, they could have foreseen this and started the first series on Wed. or Thurs...

Either way, I'm excited for the best thing about the playoffs: no zombie runner!

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Well, they could have foreseen this and started the first series on Wed. or Thurs...

Either way, I'm excited for the best thing about the playoffs: no zombie runner!

Then the teams with byes have to sit even longer which they also don't want.

[Swadewade51]

Go Cleveland!

[todeen]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Reds and Mets is a fun nail-biter, though.

Both Reds and Mets lose to tumble into the playoffs. Yet the reds uncork the bottles anyway! Fingers crossed they somehow beat the Dodgers!

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[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Yankees and Blue Jays has some drama since one team will be the top seed with home field and a bye and the other has to play a wild card series on Tuesday.

I was critical of the Yanks earlier in the season, but they righted the ship and made a run at the Jays near the end, winning 12 of the last 13 games of the season.

Jays pulled out the tiebreaker though.

It is amazing, that through the doom and gloom of Yankees fans…and the calls to fire Aaron Boone through the entire season, they still ended up tied for the best record in the American League, and had the best run differential in the AL (2nd best in MLB)…by a lot.

Love the no Zombie runners in the playoffs, but hate the 3 game series to start it all off. Wish they could find their way to do 5 games in the 1st round.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by todeen

Both Reds and Mets lose to tumble into the playoffs. Yet the reds uncork the bottles anyway! Fingers crossed they somehow beat the Dodgers!

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I'm going to be rooting for the Reds and the Guardians.