2025 MLB Playoffs!

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by bk400

I suppose that makes sense if Dave was throwing in the towel after being down only 2 runs with Playoff Mookie, Teoscar Hernandez and Playoff Freddie due up in the bottom of the inning.

He got out of the seventh with a little luck and no runs, I’m not defending Robert’s managing, hes horrible, but why not send him in the 8th . The wheels came off quick, at that point they gave up the game so why not keep him in to keep the rest of the arms fresh.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

He got out of the seventh with a little luck and no runs, I’m not defending Robert’s managing, hes horrible, but why not send him in the 8th . The wheels came off quick, at that point they gave up the game so why not keep him in to keep the rest of the arms fresh.

Because he is Clayton Kershaw with a track record ten miles long of post season disasters, that's why.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Because he is Clayton Kershaw with a track record ten miles long of post season disasters, that's why.

Then why even have him on the post season roster?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Then why even have him on the post season roster?

No argument here, as I posted before he should have been left off.

[frankbmd]

Kershaw is a regular season Hall of Fame. PERIOD.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Kershaw is a regular season Hall of Fame. PERIOD.

Perhaps. But so was Ted Williams.

[Balticfox]

Yay! All the games went my way yesterday and the dog-ass Yankees have been eliminated.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Yay! All the games went my way yesterday and the dog-ass Yankees have been eliminated.

And somehow the Yankees haven't fired Boone yet.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Kershaw is the WORST starter to use out of the pen, postseason or otherwise. Even at this point in his career he is much more vulnerable early in his starts then once he gets rolling. What could possibly suggest that's a guy you want coming out of the pen.

Frankly I would rather have seen him start tonight than come out of the pen yesterday.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Frankly I would rather have seen him start tonight than come out of the pen yesterday.

Hey! No reason he can't do both.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The decision to pitch him in relief in a still winnable game may be the second worst decision ever made. The decision to bring him back for the 8th was the worst decision ever made. Far worse than Grady Little leaving Pedro in. I would have fired Roberts on the spot if I controlled the Dodgers. Right there, in the middle of the game. Absolutely, unequivocally, inexcusable.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bk400

Perhaps. But so was Ted Williams.

Did someone say he wasn't?

[bk400]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Did someone say he wasn't?

Just making the point that Kershaw wouldn't be the only legendary player who was Mr. Regular Season. Mike Trout would be another.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bk400

Just making the point that Kershaw wouldn't be the only legendary player who was Mr. Regular Season. Mike Trout would be another.

Not at all analagous. Williams and Trout barely touched the post season., their teams sucked, tiny sample sizes mean nothing. Kershaw has like a season's worth of post season appearances.

To be precise, he has started 32 postseason games and pitched in 40 total. His ERA is now ..... wait for it .... 4.63. FOUR POINT SIX THREE, you read that right. More that two full points higher than his regular season ERA.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Not at all analagous. Williams and Trout barely touched the post season., their teams sucked, tiny sample sizes mean nothing. Kershaw has like a season's worth of post season appearances.

If you don't play a lot in the postseason, you're still a Mr. Regular Season. You can't say that Ted Williams or Mike Trout are anything other than Mr. Regular Seasons.

[TUM301]

Ted Williams was a “Mr Regular Season “, man tough crowd especially for a player whose career lasted from 1939-1960. Think he played in 1 post season series 6 games and went 5 for 25. Amazing Boston had so few appearances all those years.

[bk400]

In all seriousness, I'd be curious to see how many hits Ted Williams had in pressure-less games -- perhaps defined as games where the Red Sox were more than 5 games out of first place in the final third of the season. Or, similarly, how many home runs Mike Trout has had in similar games. There should be a premium for performance under pressure, which (unfortunately) would elevate players like Jeter.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

And somehow the Yankees haven't fired Boone yet.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...aign=editorial

[BobbyStrawberry]

Well that was one of the worst plays in the history of postseason baseball.

[bk400]

Hate to see games end like that.

Hats off to the Phillies. Every at bat with them is like that knife fight in the movie Eastern Promises. This was the best series so far.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...aign=editorial

Joe Girardi wasn't perfect, but he was a better manager than Boone. I think teams these days are looking mostly for a yes-man who will do what the analytics people say and that the players don't mind having around. Boone is the poster boy for that IMO.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Joe Girardi wasn't perfect, but he was a better manager than Boone. I think teams these days are looking mostly for a yes-man who will do what the analytics people say and that the players don't mind having around. Boone is the poster boy for that IMO.

Speaking of analytics, the stat nerds probably agree with the decision to intentionally walk Ohtani in the 8th innings, but I think that is where the Phillies blew a great opportunity to win. Ohtani has looked like absolute ass at the plate this series, and he hasn't had a clutch hit in the playoffs -- ever. Instead, you pitch to Mookie Betts, who is definitely a clutch hitter. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Well that was one of the worst plays in the history of postseason baseball.

How can such a short throw be that far off line?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

How can such a short throw be that far off line?

It's unbelievable. And how could you forget how many outs there are with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th?

[bk400]

The kid did his best. Hope Phillies Nation supports him.

[Balticfox]

I'm very disappointed to see the Phillies go down in that fashion.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

And somehow the Yankees haven't fired Boone yet.

https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status...nt-office.html

[Peter_Spaeth]

To the top of the 15h. Taking out a dominant Skubal after only 6 may cost the Tigers a trip to the next round.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

To the top of the 15h. Taking out a dominant Skubal after only 6 may cost the Tigers a trip to the next round.

What a game! The commentators were saying that Skubal takes himself out of games when he feels he's out of gas.

[RayW]

Great win for Seattle and their long suffering fans.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Should've let Flaherty go another inning.

[ClementeFanOh]

Now THAT was playoff baseball! I had no rooting interest in Seattle/Det so it
was simply fun to watch. What a game! Trent King

[egri]

Now that the Red Sox and Tigers are out, and the Yankees have joined them on the golf course for the winter, I don't have a particular preference who wins it all, though I guess it would be nice for one of the teams who hasn't won it yet to pull through.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by egri

Now that the Red Sox and Tigers are out, and the Yankees have joined them on the golf course for the winter, I don't have a particular preference who wins it all, though I guess it would be nice for one of the teams who hasn't won it yet to pull through.

I'd like to see certain players do well. Roki Sasaki comes to mind.

[KMayUSA6060]

Thank you Seattle for knocking the Tigers out. Their legacy will be blowing the largest divisional lead in MLB history and losing back to back ALDS Game 5s with Skubal on the mound.

Sincerely,

Cleveland fans

[TUM301]

really good game to watch hopefully Chi-Brewers comes close today. Thought Skubaul at 99 pitches would start the 7’th would like to hear that conversation and the thought process. Sox long gone so hoping for ANYONE other than L A.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The analytics may say otherwise. My experience says do not take out a starter with command (2 hits, 13Ks) unless he or his catcher tell you he's spent. Seen this movie so many times.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The analytics may say otherwise. My experience says do not take out a starter with command (2 hits, 13Ks) unless he or his catcher tell you he's spent. Seen this movie so many times.

While I agree with what you're saying, as someone else already mentioned, the announcers made it sound like Skubal basically tells the manager when he's done. I just read that the most pitches he's ever thrown in a game is 108 and that was in 2022. He was at 99 last night when he came out.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jayshum

While I agree with what you're saying, as someone else already mentioned, the announcers made it sound like Skubal basically tells the manager when he's done. I just read that the most pitches he's ever thrown in a game is 108 and that was in 2022. He was at 99 last night when he came out.

I guess we'll never know, but his last pitch clocked 101, how done could he have been, and I just find it hard to believe a pitcher of his caliber would pull himself from a one run deciding playoff game.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The analytics may say otherwise. My experience says do not take out a starter with command (2 hits, 13Ks) unless he or his catcher tell you he's spent. Seen this movie so many times.

I agree.

While I'm very disappointed with the Tigers loss, I have to admit that they haven't been playing pennant winning caliber baseball since the All-Star break.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I guess we'll never know, but his last pitch clocked 101, how done could he have been, and I just find it hard to believe a pitcher of his caliber would pull himself from a one run deciding playoff game.

Here's the explanation from Hinch:

"Easy decision," Hinch said. "After the fifth (inning), I checked in on him — how he was doing physically and emotionally. We both knew that he had one (inning) left. He emptied his tank and was emotional coming off the mound, and I think that signals exactly where we were in the game. He gave us everything he could. He's pitched on regular rest now three or four starts in a row. He empties his tank from pitch one. It was an easy decision."

[bk400]

Brewers -- Dodgers should be fun. It will be interesting to see if they can keep Ohtani bottled up. He had an OPS of 1.066 in 22 ABs this year against their pitching (versus a .626 OPS against the Cubs).

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bk400

Brewers -- Dodgers should be fun. It will be interesting to see if they can keep Ohtani bottled up. He had an OPS of 1.066 in 22 ABs this year against their pitching (versus a .626 OPS against the Cubs).

The worst part of the Phillies loss to the Dodgers was that they kept Ohtani to 1-18 in the series but still lost 3 games out of 4.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

Thank you Seattle for knocking the Tigers out. Their legacy will be blowing the largest divisional lead in MLB history and losing back to back ALDS Game 5s with Skubal on the mound.

Sincerely,

Cleveland fans

Your resentment of the Detroit Tigers is misplaced. It wasn't Tiger fans who took your Indians from you. Blame the baseball establishment in New York for that.

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Your resentment of the Detroit Tigers is misplaced. It wasn't Tiger fans who took your Indians from you. Blame the baseball establishment in New York for that.

I have zero resentment towards the Tigers; that's simply a true rivalry that's fun again after the Tigers were truly crap for about a decade. The key to their recent success has been the hiring of a known cheater in Hinch. Last year, Skubal walked off the mound in Game 2 of the ALDS and called Cleveland fans the "B" word. We got our revenge with late game heroics in Game 4 with Fry and the incredible grand slam off Skubal in game 5 by Lane Thomas. Fast forward to this year, the recap of tweets from Tigers fans when they were up 15.5 games is hilarious to look back on. September was one of the most fun months of baseball I've been a part of as a Cleveland fan. I was at the game on the 23rd of September, with my kids, with Skubal on the mound when the Guardians scored 3 runs without a ball leaving the infield. The Guardians grabbed 1st place that game and never looked back. Such a fun run. Did Detroit get the better of us in the AL Wild Card? Yep - Cleveland shot themselves in the foot in game 1 with 2 unearned runs. That was our opportunity and Vogt blew it with poor starting lineup decisions. Ce la vie. In the end, we get to hang a banner and sit atop the record books. Detroit went home a week later has very little to show for it.

I loathe New York as well, but I'm not sure what they or anyone has to do with taking Indians from me. With that being said, really hoping the Brewers beat the Dodgers as the final middle finger to the criminal payroll cabal.

Looking forward to keeping this rivalry going next year, and congrats on a fun season that saw Detroit's first playoff series win in quite some time.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

I have zero resentment towards the Tigers; that's simply a true rivalry that's fun again after the Tigers were truly crap for about a decade.

Oh come on! That opening statement is hardly consistent with the rest of your post.

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

I loathe New York as well, but I'm not sure what they or anyone has to do with taking Indians from me.

You don't believe that Commissioner Rob Manfred and the rest of the baseball establishment in New York didn't exert heavy pressure on the owners of the Cleveland team to make the name change? It certainly wasn't the fans of the Indians.

The Indians were my favourite American League team edging out the Oakland Athletics for about fifty years. Now that both those teams are gone the Detroit Tigers have moved into my #1 slot.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

The worst part of the Phillies loss to the Dodgers was that they kept Ohtani to 1-18 in the series but still lost 3 games out of 4.

I'd say the final play of the series was the worst part...

[rowdy3]

Really hope Seattle pulls it off.Sucks Griffey or Ichiro did't win a ring with them.

[Snapolit1]

Blake Snell is nasty. Very very nasty.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Blake Snell is nasty. Very very nasty.

Surprised they pulled him to be honest.