Thread: That Ball's Outta Here! Baseball 2015 Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


To visit this thread, use this URL:
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=70;t=029379
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Pitchers and catchers report next week, the official start of Spring Training! [Axe murder]

For those who wonder about such things, the thread title is derived from the classic home run call of the late, lamented Harry Kalas, one of the all-time great baseball announcers. It has been almost 6 years since he died and I still miss the sound of his voice during the game. [Tear]

So what will this season bring? Will the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals build on their unexpected successes of last year, or will they prove to have been one-season wonders? Will the Dodgers benefit from the huge amount of cash they are pouring on the field? Will the Yankees manage to survive the loss of Jeter (and will A-Rod ever actually play for them again)?

For myself, it is going to be a long season. The only real question for me is whether the Phillies will end up with the worst record in MLB. They are 99.9% certain to be last in their division, and about 75% certain to be the worst in the National League, but I think it is a good 50-50 coin flip whether they will be the worst in all baseball (battling for the bottom spot with the Minnesota Twins).

So have at it! What are your thoughts, feelings, predictions for the coming year?
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
I think the Dodgers will have another very good regular season. It's an odd-numbered year so that (and the extreme difficulty of repeating) rules out the Giants. I reckon the Nats will be the best regular season NL team.

The AL looks harder to call to me, but I think the Angels might have a very good regular season, possibly the best of the bunch.

World Series? Anyone's guess. Seems a good idea to qualify as a wild card. I'm very pleased, but genuinely still surprised that the Giants won last year. And that seventh game still ranks as a classic end to a really competitive WS.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
The Angels do look to be the best of the AL. The AL East looks like it will be interesting this year. Any of the 5 teams could reasonably end up on top of the division by the end of the year. I can't seriously say that about any other division.

Just for fun, here is the list of the Top 10 "projected payrolls" for this year (they are only projected because almost all of them still have players to sign...a guess is being made as to the value of those not-yet-contracts). The list is, of course, in millions of dollars:


That would be 6 AL teams and 4 NL teams.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
The Angels do look to be the best of the AL. The AL East looks like it will be interesting this year. Any of the 5 teams could reasonably end up on top of the division by the end of the year. I can't seriously say that about any other division.

Just for fun, here is the list of the Top 10 "projected payrolls" for this year (they are only projected because almost all of them still have players to sign...a guess is being made as to the value of those not-yet-contracts). The list is, of course, in millions of dollars:

That would be 6 AL teams and 4 NL teams.
Thinks: do Designated Hitters bump up the payroll?

Noted that the Pirates are not in Top 10. This is a) disappointing, b) unsurprising c) unlikely to make any damn difference, as none of our divisional rivals are in the $$$ elite either. I still take the Bucs to play in October again, though not for very long as we don't have an ace pitcher.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
As much as I'd love to blame it on the Designated Hitter, I don't think it is the culprit. As it turns out, 4 of the bottom 5 spenders are AL teams too (namely Indians, A's, Rays and Astros). Of course, the traditional bottom spender of all is the Miami Marlins.

As for the NL Central, with one notable exception, they are all reasonably close in terms of spending.


<Hedgehog hums "One of these things is not like the others...">
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
Will the Dodgers benefit from the huge amount of cash they are pouring on the field?

One can only hope! Bring on spring training. I shall be there for at least a couple of games. I can play hooky from school 'cause I'm the teacher!
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Dodgers are on top now. We will be seeing them beat the Athletics later today!
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
I know that Spring Training games are meaningless, but I am amused that my Phillies (likely to be the Worst Team In Baseball in 2015) has one of the better records in Spring games. This may be the only time I see them with a winning record all year, so I better enjoy it while I can! [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Hedgehog may be onto something as my beloved Bucs had some batting practice against the Phillies in the guise of spring training and won 18-4, including a slam amongst six homers.

A far cry from last years pre-season which was pretty poor for the Pirates. Maybe we'll avoid the wildcard nonsense this season.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
A local sports radio guy lines up baseball tours every year. Pittsburgh is one of the available places to go and also a Braves home game against the Pirates.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Is that local to me in Newport? I must get over sometime. I expect friends will ask why I want to go to a one-time steeltown, so I'll have to tell them that I live in a one-time steeltown, and one with the same sporting colours too - black & amber.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Looking forward to the next home game for Vin Scully and my Dodgers. Watched one on TV during Spring Training. It was fantastic hearing him again - having heard that golden voice for well over 50 years! If he ever retires, maybe when he's 103, they will have to replace him with three kids straight out of university!
 
Posted by BessLane (# 15176) on :
 
Well, I've enjoyed annoying several of my Cubs fan buddies. Unlike the Red Sox, who break your heart at the end of the season, the Cubs just go ahead and do it on opening day...
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Don't write them off yet! Besides, it's in the forties in Chicago tonight. Also IIRC it's the first ever opening *night* at Wrigley.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
The Chronicle has a story about the best baseball names in San Francisco history. "Lefty" O'Doul doesn't even get a look in.

Any favorites from your team?
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Older teams have a tremendous advantage on this topic, as the Golden Age of nicknames was pre-1920.

From my Phillies, in 1883 (their first year of play) they had Bob "Death To Flying Things" Ferguson. It is almost impossible to top that.

Later, in 1890, they had a pitcher known as Phenomenal Smith.

One of my all-time favorite nicknames was NY Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson, known simply as "The Christian Gentleman."
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by BessLane:
Well, I've enjoyed annoying several of my Cubs fan buddies. Unlike the Red Sox, who break your heart at the end of the season, the Cubs just go ahead and do it on opening day...
Nonsense. This is their year. Didn't you see Back to the Future II?
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Meanwhile, the Pirates just disappoint. Plenty of hits, not enough runs. One bad, bad inning. Oh, and I don't understand the balk rule.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

One of my all-time favorite nicknames was NY Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson, known simply as "The Christian Gentleman."
I think it was Frank Deford who wrote a dual biography of Mathewson (who was indeed a gentleman) and John McGraw (who by most accounts was not). A good read.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Meanwhile, the Pirates just disappoint. Plenty of hits, not enough runs. One bad, bad inning. Oh, and I don't understand the balk rule.
The balk rule is very hard to understand, in part because it isn't written as a single rule. Or rather, it is, but not usefully. A balk is an "illegal pitch" with a runner on the bases. But what is an "illegal pitch"? Well, that is spread out through about a dozen different rules. In the Pirates game, the problem was that the pitcher "started" his motion to pitch to home, but then stopped. or hesitated. Or wasn't smooth about it. And that constituted a balk. It is all very vague. And it depends where the feet are. And the hands. And whether the hands stop.... and so on and so forth. There is a LOT to not understand about the balk rule.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Yesterday, Oakland's Brett Lawrie had a Bad Day At The Plate. How bad? Well he went 0-for-4, but lots of players did that. But he had 4 strikeouts. Okay, that is harsh, but not unheard of. What truly sets his day out from others: in those 4 strikeouts he saw a grand total of...12 pitches!

Yes, he struck out on 3 consecutive pitches four times in a row. Now THAT is hard to do.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
He saw them? I'm surprised batters see many pitches. The ball often starts at about eye level, flies faster than a cricket ball (mostly) but then it dips and swerves late. I'm amazed fewer batters aren't hit.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I didn't get to go to the game where Adrian Gonzales hit three home runs, but thanks to my Dodger homies on facebook I heard Vin call one of them and saw the video!

This should bode well for our season....
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Pittsburgh just won its home opener against previously undefeated Detroit (now 6-1). That means that there is only one team that remains undefeated this year: the 6-0 Kansas City Royals (who will be playing the 1-5 Twins in a few minutes).
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Dodgers seem to be still on top in their division.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Yes, La Dodgers are doing well.

I really haven't found much to write about in this season.

Well, that is not true. That whole bit about the Baltimore Orioles having to play a game where the fans were kept locked out, followed by Baltimore playing a few "home" games in Tampa Bay, was filled with things to talk about, but I couldn't think of any O's fans here on the Ship who would join in.

I am amused that the fan-less game turned out to be the fastest 9-inning game played this year. MLB was tweaking the rules to shorten game time this year. Who knew that the problem apparently was having fans in the stands? [Smile]

Right now my Phillies are playing a series against Sioni Sais' Pirates. Last night was a decent game, with the Phils mounting an (ultimately futile) 9th inning rally. Tonight, the Pirates' pitcher will be A.J. Burnett, who played for the Phils last year. The Phillies, for their part, will send out Sean O'Sullivan to the mound. He has played in the majors for six seasons...with a grand total of 55 games played in that time (that includes the 2 games he has pitched for the Phillies this year).
 
Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
I am amused that the fan-less game turned out to be the fastest 9-inning game played this year. MLB was tweaking the rules to shorten game time this year. Who knew that the problem apparently was having fans in the stands? [Smile]
You mean "who knew that the problem apparently was allowing fans lots of extra time to go and buy another beer?"

[Biased]
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
There was a wonderful pitcher's performance last night in the Cardinals v. Indians game. Full story is HERE, but the short story is that Cleveland pitcher Corey Kluber struck out 18 batters in 8 innings. As there are only 24 total outs in 8 innings, you can see that 18 strikeouts accounts for a remarkably high percentage of the outs. From the article:

quote:
Kluber's 18 strikeouts tied Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller for the most in a nine-inning game in franchise history. Feller achieved the feat on Oct. 2, 1938, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers. The 18 strikeouts are the most in the Majors since Ben Sheets fanned the same total on May 16, 2004, with the Brewers. Kluber also tied soon-to-be Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts in an eight-inning outing since at least 1914.
Kluber did not pitch the 9th. He had thrown 113 pitches and probably could have pitched the 9th, but he gave up a hit in the 7th inning and I think the concern was that he was tiring. With only a 2 run lead, the Indians manager decided discretion was the better part of valor and brought in their closer to handle the 9th (and he struck out 1 batter).
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
Yes, La Dodgers are doing well.

I really haven't found much to write about in this season.

Me neither, and until Cutch starts to see the ball again I'll continue to be quiet. Still watching games at stupid o'clock and I'm pleased that Kang is now doing some good stuff.

Todays game isn't going well though, 4-0 down in the ninth. [Frown]
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
So the Miami Marlins have fired their manager. That isn't so surprising--the Marlins love to fire their managers. It is a rare one that makes it over two years with them.

What is surprising is that the man they have selected to take over managing the team for the rest of the year [allegedly] is a guy from the front office. The team's "general manager" who has never played, coached or managed a game in the majors. Or in the minors. Or in college. Back in the 1980s, he did coach a high school baseball team, though.

Now, admittedly, teams have lots of coaches so the manager does not have to do everything. Bench coach, 1st base coach, 3rd base coach, pitching coach. So the new untested manager has many coaches to rely on (although, come to think of it, I think the Marlins also fired the bench coach). But if you are going to rely on those coaches to make your game decisions for you (hit-and-run, steals, fielding shifts, player substitutions, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, etc.), wouldn't it make more sense to make one of them the manager?

It should be fun to watch.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Chris Heston of the Giants has celebrated my birthday (yeah, right!) by no-hitting the Mets.

Didn't want to let that go past without a mention.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
I get any Good News about the Bucs on line. So far I have seen four games live (on ESPN) and we have lost all four, two in extras. I'm not watching any more unless we play in October.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
I feel your pain. I went to a Phillies game last week. They lost. The only positive was that it was a close enough game that there was reason to stay for the 9th inning (when the Phils went down 1-2-3).
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Dodgers sweeping series. Wish I could get the feed from LA with Vin Scully!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Phew!! An extras win for the Pirates!
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
You know what's funny? I am browsing the thread and totally hearing it in Dave Flemming's voice.
 
Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Go, Giants!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Thanks to a six-game streak the Pirates trail St Louis by "only" six games! Otherwise, only Kansas City have a better record so things are looking good right now. I have to admit that our recent opposition have played a part in this.

It really would be nice to make the play-offs without a wildcard game though.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
History of a sort last night, as the Phillies' current road trip has amassed a record of 0-8--their worse road trip record since [drum roll] 1883.

Yes, 1883. 132 years ago.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Things are looking up for you: a win for the Phillies'!

Meanwhile the Bucs are gaining ground on the Cardinals: we won (seventh in a row) while they lost. Only 4.5 behind now.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has resigned.

I can't say I am surprised. In fact, I am rather pleased. I know the Phillies as a team are bad and, therefore, I don't really blame Sandberg for the win-loss record. But the fact remains that, even with bad players, Sandberg did a lot of managerial moves that flat-out made no sense. I thought he made poor decisions when he was a third-base coach, and he continued to make bad decisions as manager. His managing style is best described as "let's doing something ill-advised and then hope for a miracle." And there were signs that he had lost the support of the players. It is better that he is gone.

So the basement-dwelling Phils play the super-hot first-place Nationals tonight, with the Nats sending to the mound a pitcher who was one batter away from a perfect game the last time out. Just what the new interim manager/sacrificial lamb for the Phils needs to greet him! [Votive] [Votive] [Votive]
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
My Dodgers had weak pitching and lost badly on the road yesterday.
 
Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
So the basement-dwelling Phils play the super-hot first-place Nationals tonight, with the Nats sending to the mound a pitcher who was one batter away from a perfect game the last time out. Just what the new interim manager/sacrificial lamb for the Phils needs to greet him! [Votive] [Votive] [Votive]
And, of course, DC loves Philly! I'm sure they'll be gentle. [Biased]
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
Tomorrow's the deadline, I think. Here's my all-star ballot which was posted 35 times, by position number

AL
2 S Perez
3 M Cabrera
4 J Altuve
5 M Machado
6 J Iglesias
7-9 A Jones, B Gardner, M Trout
DH N Cruz

NL
2 B Posey
3 P Goldschmidt
4 D Gordon
5 J Uribe
6 T Tulotwitzki
7-9 A McCutcheon, B Harper, G Stanton
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I worked on the All-Star game in 2011 as a stage tech and it was an honour to help carry the Trophy downstairs to the floor of the convention centre floor after building a replica of the Hall of Fame earlier!
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
The game in San Diego was rained out yesterday. Not something that happens every year!

One of my favorite baseball memories is of a Giants broadcast from San Diego from about the mid-70s. It started to rain, and the SD ground crew leaped into action. The San Francisco announcers were very amused by the struggles of a group that obviously had never had to rush to put the tarps down. They ended up spilling water from the tarp all over the infield.

In those days, the home station would switch to a movie during a rain delay. It was so improbable for a game in SoCal that they apparently didn't have anything cued up. So they stuck with the broadcast crew.

An hour or so into the delay, somebody in SF put a caption onto the screen.

"Lon Simmons and Gary Park trying desperately to fill time"

Simmons and Park were pros, and very entertaining as they mined their stock of baseball rainout stories. I don't remember if the game ever went on.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
We were hemorrhaging runs last night. Zack G. promised he'd be back on Sunday. Bode is so small he may need to stay in hospital with his mother. I wish the family well and I wish my Dodgers a good score in our favour!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Things didn't look good down 5-3 in the seventh but the Pirates batting turned up just in time, to take advantge of poor, well, everything by the Dodgers. Eleven at bats led to seven runs, though six runs usually loses a game.

Bring on the Cards. It's early to talk about divisional champions but these must be the best two in the NL, let alone the NLC.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
An interesting bit of trivia occurred on August 11, when all 30 teams in MLB were playing and all 15 home teams won.

More details here.

MLB expanded to 30 teams in 1998, so it was not physically possible for home teams to have gone 15-0 prior to then, but...

quote:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the previous record for most games on a single day in which every home team won was 12, set on May 23, 1914. There were three major leagues back then, and on that day, home teams won in the National (four games), American (four) and Federal (four) leagues.

 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
My Dodgers are back! Over the last two games, our opponents had no-hitters foisted upon them.

[Yipee]
 
Posted by ChaliceGirl (# 13656) on :
 
Just saw this topic today. The headline grabbed my attention. Legendary Voice of the Phillies Harry Kalas was famous for saying "That ball is OUTTA HERE!"
I miss Harry.

This season's Phillies...not so much!
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Exactly, ChaliceGirl! I paid tribute to him in the OP. Nothing can quite compare to the joy of listening to Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn broadcasting a baseball game.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Vin's still going strong in LA. At 88, he just signed a new contract!
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
What the heck happened to the Washington Nationals?

So far as my beloved Giants are concerned it's been a weird season. Long losing streaks and long winning streaks. Bumgarner is now on a hat trick for his next time at the mound. Two complete games in a row. Plus he has this habit of RBIs and HRs when he's pitching well. That guy is a force of nature.

The Giants will do well to make the play-offs this year. Although the bats have scored well this year, the pitching rotation (apart from Bumgarner) gives me "that uncertain feeling". Still, there are lots of games to go.
But there are a lot of games to go.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
What the heck happened to the Washington Nationals?
What the heck happened to the Washington Senators? (I've been reading up my baseball history).

quote:


So far as my beloved Giants are concerned it's been a weird season. Long losing streaks and long winning streaks. Bumgarner is now on a hat trick for his next time at the mound. Two complete games in a row. Plus he has this habit of RBIs and HRs when he's pitching well. That guy is a force of nature.

The Giants will do well to make the play-offs this year. Although the bats have scored well this year, the pitching rotation (apart from Bumgarner) gives me "that uncertain feeling". Still, there are lots of games to go.
But there are a lot of games to go.
Do they need anyone else? They did win the World Series almost entirely thanks to MadBum winning two games and saving another from a long way out.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Grenke hits home runs while pitching, too!

Dodgers took a well-deserved day off yesterday, but we are still number one.

[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
"Only" 4.5 behind St Louis now after beating the Giants but the Pirates now have to face MadBum and he doesn't give much away. Neither do we with Jeff Locke starting, so runs could be rare tonight.

My hope is that the Giants don't overtake the Dodgers and the top three in the NLC all go forward to post-season, which currently looks like a Wild Card playoff at Pittsburgh against the Cubs. That could well lead to a NL Series against our favourite opponents, the Cardinals, and who knows what?!?
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
La Dodgers have pulled off the tricky stunt of being no-hit twice in a span of ten days. That's a lot of nonproduction from the largest payroll in the majors!

But things are getting close to winding up. Cincinnati has an elimination number of 3--any combination of Reds' losses or Cardinals' wins totaling three and Cincy will be mathematically eliminated from winning the division.

Meanwhile, The Phils and Marlins are tied with a Wild Card Elimination number of 10. I imagine they will be officially eliminated within the next 2 weeks--possibly within the next week!

As for the Washington Nationals: they are a wonderful example why you should never bet on baseball. In the preseason, they were frequently picked as likely to make it to the World Series. Famously, Bryce ("Don't call me Bruce") Harper was quoted as stating (before the season started) that the league should just give them their rings then.

And yet, if the season ended tonight, they would not even make the playoffs, much less the World Series. The official explanation is that, sob!, they have had injuries! Which, of course, would fly better if (1) there was such a thing as a major league team that has not had key injuries; and (2) it wasn't for the awkward fact that the Nats' decline began when their injured players came back! On July 5, the Nats were leading the NL East and the stats-types calculated that they had an 89% probability of making the playoffs. Now they are 5.5 games out of first and those same stats-types calculate that they have an 89% probability of NOT making the playoffs.

Of course, there is still a month to go and that can flip again. After all, the Mets have a proud tradition of collapsing in September, and there is no reason to think that they won't continue that tradition this year.

However, I suspect that things are going to look bleaker for Washington before it gets better. For the next three games, the Nats have to play the Cardinals (i.e., the best team in the NL) while the Mets get to play the Phillies (i.e., the worst team in the NL). I doubt that the Nats will be 8.5 out by Thursday, but 6.5 or 7.5 is a definite possibility.
 
Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :
 
Blue Jays Rock!

I know, there are a lot of games left, but they are better than they have been in over 20 years. Great hitting; great pitching.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
As a Braves fan, I'll just spit on the ground and mumble. It's absolutely pitiful, I tell you.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I saw a bit of the Dodger game last night on MLB network but was quite put off not hearing Vin Scully at the microphone. Apparently it was a San Francisco broadcast that lasted 14 innings. Last time I watched a game at Chavez Ravine in person, it lasted 14 innings, but I had to catch up on the last four innings on KNX as I had to be out-of-state on a job the next day!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
As a Braves fan, I'll just spit on the ground and mumble. It's absolutely pitiful, I tell you.
Your last ten isn't pretty, but your season isn't 0.111 overall either. These things pass.

The Pirates look again likely to get to the play-offs but we are five games behind the Cardinals. That said, we have six games against them before the end of the season. Could even make it without a pesky wildcard game.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Cincinnati has become the first team officially eliminated from winning their division (although they still have a way to go before being officially eliminated from the Wild Card hunt...it still looks like either the Phillies or the Marlins will be the first to be eliminated from the WC--although Colorado dropping a doubleheader to Arizona has put them in play for that "honor" too).

Mere Nick, I confess that I haven't been paying close attention to Atlanta, but you are right. In their last 21 games they are 3-18. That is pretty brutal.

I normally question whether changing the manager will have any big effect on a team, but I have to say that the change of managers for the Phillies has had some good results. Sandberg managed for the first 74 games, and they only got 26 wins. Pete Mackanin has managed that same team for only 59 games, and he already has 27 wins. And I say "the same team" but Mackanin is dealing with a team that no longer has Cole Hamels, Chase Utley or even Ben Revere. I mean, 27-32 is still a losing record for Mackanin but it still feels like the team's downward trend is slowly starting to turn around and an argument can be made that it is because Mackanin is in charge.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
[qb] As a Braves fan, I'll just spit on the ground and mumble. It's absolutely pitiful, I tell you.
Your last ten isn't pretty, but your season isn't 0.111 overall either. These things pass.
They say the same thing about kidney stones.

quote:
The Pirates look again likely to get to the play-offs but we are five games behind the Cardinals. That said, we have six games against them before the end of the season. Could even make it without a pesky wildcard game.
Besides the Braves, I like pulling for small-market blue collar teams like the Pirates, Royals and A's. It would be great to see the Pirates pull it off. Nothing against the Cardinals, but churn at the top is pretty cool.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
Mere Nick, I confess that I haven't been paying close attention to Atlanta, but you are right. In their last 21 games they are 3-18. That is pretty brutal.
It's worse than what happened to Ned Beatty during the love scene in Deliverance.

The Phillies play the Braves six times this month and that should help the new manager out. He may go over .500 during his time this season.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
Besides the Braves, I like pulling for small-market blue collar teams like the Pirates, Royals and A's. It would be great to see the Pirates pull it off. Nothing against the Cardinals, but churn at the top is pretty cool.
Thanks, but our last few results don't help. It's a while since we lost three in a row. Surely we can get results against Milwaukee, even on their home patch.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
The Asheville Tourists were a Pirates farm team in the early sixties. Ray Hathaway was their manager for about 3 1/2 seasons. My youngest daughter's mother-in-law's sister married Hathaway's son.

It therefore seems only reasonable to me that the Pirates should provide me with travel, hotel, food, beer and tickets to any all Pirates games. For some reason, though, I've yet to see anything that would suggest they agree with me on that.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
The Asheville Tourists were a Pirates farm team in the early sixties. Ray Hathaway was their manager for about 3 1/2 seasons. My youngest daughter's mother-in-law's sister married Hathaway's son.

It therefore seems only reasonable to me that the Pirates should provide me with travel, hotel, food, beer and tickets to any all Pirates games. For some reason, though, I've yet to see anything that would suggest they agree with me on that.
This is my third season supporting them which has followed 21 years of losing season misery, with no play-off games. Not even a cap or a shirt have I seen, but surely this limey is worth something to them.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
It is now official: The Philadelphia Phillies are the first team to be formally eliminated from the playoffs. They had been eliminated from the Wild Card some time back, and last night they were officially eliminated from winning the division title.

Next up will probably be the Atlanta Braves. They have been eliminated from the Wild Card, and their elimination number for the division is 1 (so if the Mets win tonight or the Braves lose, the Braves will be officially eliminated).

(Oh, wait. There is no "or" there--the Mets and Braves play each other tonight!!)

Cincinnati and Milwaukee have both been eliminated from winning their divisions, but both are still technically alive in the Wild Card--although I believe the Reds elimination number for the Wild Card is 2--so they might well be eliminated tonight if the Cubs beat the Phils and the Reds lose to the Cardinals.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
If I read the tables correctly the Reds and the Rockies won't be long joining them. On a happier note the Bucs have another winning season with 24 games to play.

It has got to the nervous stage of the season though, and the longest streaks are in the NL East where the Mets have won their last three and the Nats have lost their last three. It's what Alex Ferguson, long-time manager of Manchester United called "squeaky bum time".
 
Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :
 
In the AL East, the Yankees and the Blue Jays have a weekend battle for first.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
The Atlanta Braves are now officially eliminated, joining the Phillies on the discard pile.

The Colorado Rockies are hanging by a thread. Their elimination numbers for both the division and the Wild Card are 1. If they lose to Seattle tonight, they are eliminated.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds have been added to the discard pile. I find it interesting that the first four teams fully eliminated from the playoffs have all been from the National League. And I think we are still a couple of days away from the first American League discard.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
My Dodgers must refrain from making any more stupid mistakes such as the one a couple of days ago when they allowed the upstart team from the Sonora Desert to beat us!
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Add the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers to the discard pile. That brings the elimination total to 6 NL teams, 0 AL teams.

It should be a couple days before anybody else gets eliminated.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
If I understand what they mean by "retained salary", and I think I do based upon Dan Uggla, Close to half of the Braves salary amount is going to folks who don't even play for them.

Folks take a look at this and see if you think I'm wrong.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
I read it the same way you do. The Phillies retained salary list includes people that they have parted ways with, such as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Jonathan Papelbon and Cole Hamels. I knew we retained a chunk of the salary of Papelbon, Hamels and Utley, and it makes sense that the rest are on the same basis.

Depressingly, the Phillies have something like $32 million tied up just on the disabled list...
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
The Giants are very much long shots now - I reckon they would have to win 15 of their remaining games and see a bit of a slump by the Dodgers or the Cubs to make the playoffs.

Their schedule makes that look possible. But I guess if they are in the hunt to the end, they will have Greinke and Kershaw to face in those last three games. Even an optimist like me reckons that even 2 out of three is a tall order.

So I reckon Sir K's Dodgers will get through and so will the Cubs. Still, next year is an even number ...
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
My weekend away has been A Good Thing for the Pirates who have gained ground on the Cards and are only 2.5 behind! We could gain two tonight in our double-header against the Cubs and if the Cardinals lose at Milwaukee, it's down (I think) to half a game!
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
I read it the same way you do. The Phillies retained salary list includes people that they have parted ways with, such as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Jonathan Papelbon and Cole Hamels. I knew we retained a chunk of the salary of Papelbon, Hamels and Utley, and it makes sense that the rest are on the same basis.

Depressingly, the Phillies have something like $32 million tied up just on the disabled list...
Yeah, the Phillies have it bad, too. Your retained is almost what you're paying the guys that actually there and then over $30m for the disabled on top of that.

It seems some teams are starting to learn the mistake of trying to buy a team like only a few can afford, like the Yankees, Dodgers, etc.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
My weekend away has been A Good Thing for the Pirates who have gained ground on the Cards and are only 2.5 behind! We could gain two tonight in our double-header against the Cubs and if the Cardinals lose at Milwaukee, it's down (I think) to half a game!
Spoke too soon didn't I. While I was away we did well, and now I have returned the wheels have fallen off and Kang, our Korean hero rookie is crocked. Still, our record is second best in the Majors, just second best in the NLC too.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
And another one bites the dust. The San Diego Padres have been eliminated from playoff contention. That makes the elimination total 7 NL teams, 0 AL teams.

Really, that fascinates me. Each league has 15 teams. 5 teams from each league makes the playoffs. That means 10 teams from each do not make the playoffs. In the NL, we have 7 of those 10 eliminated, but the AL has not started yet.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
And another one bites the dust. The San Diego Padres have been eliminated from playoff contention. That makes the elimination total 7 NL teams, 0 AL teams.

Really, that fascinates me. Each league has 15 teams. 5 teams from each league makes the playoffs. That means 10 teams from each do not make the playoffs. In the NL, we have 7 of those 10 eliminated, but the AL has not started yet.
But does that mean anything? Are the NL teams really more polarised into good and bad, with few in the middle, or does the designated hitter rule keep things competitive for longer in the AL?
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
To be honest, I am not sure it does mean anything. It may be a fluke. Obviously, it is a function of the top team records and the NL has the three best records in MLB. That would lead to the expectation that the teams eliminated would more likely be from the NL.

Even more oddly, those three top teams are all in the NL Central (St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Chicago Cubs). That is odd because, the way the schedule is set up, those three teams play each other more frequently than they play non-division teams. You would have thought that they would knock each other down, but that didn't happen.

I doubt the designated hitter plays any important factor in this. But then I am a DH skeptic, so my objectivity on this could reasonably be questioned.

In any event, we now have our first AL team to be completely eliminated from the playoffs as the Oakland A's (of Moneyball fame) are put on the discard pile. Over in the NL, the Arizona Diamondbacks have also been eliminated.

More positively, we have our first team to clinch a playoff spot. The St. Louis Cardinals (with the best record in baseball) have clinched at least a wild card spot.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
The Giants' long shot looks even longer now after those two costly losses against the D backs. Even winning all 13 remaining games probably won't be enough. I don't see a major collapse by the Pirates, Cubs or Dodgers. Nor do I see the Giants winning 12 or 13 anyway.

So yes; three teams from the NL central looks like a near certainty for the playoffs now. Plus Dodgers and Mets. The AL looks much less predictable, apart from the Royals.

I fancy the best NL team to win the WS. That could well turn out to be the Pirates.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
To be honest, I am not sure it does mean anything. It may be a fluke. Obviously, it is a function of the top team records and the NL has the three best records in MLB. That would lead to the expectation that the teams eliminated would more likely be from the NL.

Even more oddly, those three top teams are all in the NL Central (St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Chicago Cubs). That is odd because, the way the schedule is set up, those three teams play each other more frequently than they play non-division teams. You would have thought that they would knock each other down, but that didn't happen.

One factor in keeping the top three in the NLC at the top is that one of them has a woeful record against other teams in the NLC. Unfortunately that team is the Pirates. Still, last time I looked we had a record of nearly .700 against AL teams.

eta: just seen Barnabas62's last line! Yippee! Hoist the Jolly Roger!

[ 21. September 2015, 16:32: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Hoist the Jolly Roger indeed! Pittsburgh has become the second team to officially clinch a playoff spot!
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
They are finishing strongly - and have three home games against St Louis coming up shortly. Wouldn't put it past them to win the NL Central.

[Giants pretty well done and dusted following a bad bullpen showing last night. All that's really left is to see if Madbum can reach 20 wins. That would be good. He's been a bright light in a "light and shade" season.]
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Add the Kansas City Royals to the lists of those that have clinched a playoff spot, the first from the AL.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
The Cubs have joined the Cards and the Pirates, so the NL Central now has three in the playoffs.

The Pirates continue to look very strong in the run-in.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:

The Pirates continue to look very strong in the run-in.
And our pitching is better than last year. J A Happ has been a revelation - I've worked out that pitching is poker with a ball, and confidence is vital, which he now has.

Seven games is a good winning streak at any time, and especially in September. The Brewers did us a huge favour beating the Cards which cuts the gap to three. Winning the NLC is still our objective, but I reckon we have to win six of our last eight to achieve that!
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Aaron Altherr of the Phillies (one of our many rookies) managed the unusual feat of hitting an inside-the-park grand slam last night. My suspicion on most inside-the-parkers is that the fielders blundered somewhere, and the same is true here. The Washington Nationals center fielder misplayed the ball, dove for it and watched it scoot past him all the way to the fence. The left fielder had to come over and get it. By that time, the bases were cleared.

While it has not happened in 16 years, there turns out to be more inside-the-park grand slams in baseball history than you might expect. It happened TWICE in 1999! The Phillies alone have 14 of them in their history. Here is a list of all those who hit one not including Altherr.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The Nats centre field really was on a hiding to nothing there. He absolutely had to make a difficult play and was beaten by a ball that bounced at the worst possible point.
Altherr might not have great stats but he certainly saw the ball well last night.

That table is interesting too. I see that there were more in-the-park grand slams in the olden days. I guess this was due to shorter hitting, larger fields and less effective fielding.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
Aaron Altherr of the Phillies (one of our many rookies) managed the unusual feat of hitting an inside-the-park grand slam last night.

Here is a list of all those who hit one not including Altherr.
Just scanning the list - Honus Wagner did it twice. Tommy Leach -- I had to look him up -- appears three times (!).
I noticed Chief Meyers and Wes Westrum -- both catchers -- on the list.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
You missed a few: Honus Wagner did it 5 times: in 1898, 1901, 1909, 1911 and 1915!!
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
The Cubs are in the playoffs.

I'm going to post that and just look at it for a while.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Yes, the Cubbies made the playoffs, and the Mets have also clinched a spot. With that, the Washington Nationals have been officially eliminated.

So, in the NL, the only two still not officially in or out are La Dodgers and the SF Giants...the Giants keep clinging to the slimmest of chances.

This past weekend added quite a number to the AL discard pile, with Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays eliminated.

And I believe Toronto clinched a playoff spot.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

...the Giants keep clinging to the slimmest of chances.
Not sure I believe it, but a very unlikely sweep of the Dodgers (which I discounted upthread) would make things interesting.

I thought Greinke would sew it up for the Dodgers last night against Peavy, so that OT win was a surprise. Tonight its a Bumgarner-Kershaw duel. Under these circumstances, that's a match-up I might have crossed the Atlantic to see. Both have been lights out against tonight's respective opposition. I love pitching duels! [So, having said that it'll probably be 14-13 to somebody!]
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
The Giants pretty much have to run the table and count on help if they are going to pull it off.

I watched the Pirates-Cards and the Astros-Mariners games last night. They were both great pitchers duels until the very end of the Pirates game. It bums me the Pirates lost but Stephen Piscotty of the Cardinals really took a shot to the noggin.

video of the play
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The Pirates had chances, good ones, and couldn't convert one. Is our batting order wrong? The Cards had fewer chances, and took the best they weere offered. That was pretty much all their was in it.

I hope Piscotty is OK. That was a heck of a collision, right on his teammates knee, at pace.
 
Posted by Timothy the Obscure (# 292) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

...the Giants keep clinging to the slimmest of chances.
Not sure I believe it, but a very unlikely sweep of the Dodgers (which I discounted upthread) would make things interesting.

I thought Greinke would sew it up for the Dodgers last night against Peavy, so that OT win was a surprise. Tonight its a Bumgarner-Kershaw duel. Under these circumstances, that's a match-up I might have crossed the Atlantic to see. Both have been lights out against tonight's respective opposition. I love pitching duels! [So, having said that it'll probably be 14-13 to somebody!]
Or 8-0 to somebody. We hatesss the Dodgerssss--we hates them forever!
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
Madbum had an unusually poor night and Kershaw showed again what a great pitcher he is. And of course it's an Odd Year. So that was that. Congrats to the Dodgers. But 'we'll be baaaaaack'.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I am a happy man! I grew up three miles from Chavez Ravine. I have always been a Dodger fan, since age eight! 1962 was a very good year: I also went to my first motor race, the Riverside Gran Prix sponsored by the Los Angeles Times - I still have the program and I remember Dan Gurney was driving a green sports car! It was a great venue and I was sad when it was closed a couple of decades later....
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
The waiting is over and the Cardinals take the NL Central again. It's looked likely for about three months, but the Pirates kept the chase going.

Now the Pirates and the Cubs play the Wild Card game for the privilege of playing the Cards in the divisional series, which some are referring to as a "World Series Primary" due to the strength of the NL Central.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
It is one of the oddities of the system that the Pirates and Cubs have to play for the chance to play the Cardinals to get to the NL championship game--when all three have better records than the Mets & Dodgers, who only have to play each other to make the championship.

Or to put it another way, one of the teams playing in the championship will have no better than the 4th best record in the NL...and possibly lower than that.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
The waiting is over and the Cardinals take the NL Central again. It's looked likely for about three months, but the Pirates kept the chase going.

Now the Pirates and the Cubs play the Wild Card game for the privilege of playing the Cards in the divisional series, which some are referring to as a "World Series Primary" due to the strength of the NL Central.
What is also interesting, at least to me, is that the Astros are also going. They were, until a few years ago I think, in the NL Central, albeit almost perpetual cellar dwellers.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
Also, now that the Giants won't make it- go Cubbies!!!!! Break the curse.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Prester John:
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
The waiting is over and the Cardinals take the NL Central again. It's looked likely for about three months, but the Pirates kept the chase going.

Now the Pirates and the Cubs play the Wild Card game for the privilege of playing the Cards in the divisional series, which some are referring to as a "World Series Primary" due to the strength of the NL Central.
What is also interesting, at least to me, is that the Astros are also going. They were, until a few years ago I think, in the NL Central, albeit almost perpetual cellar dwellers.
They are only a half game up on the Angels, tied in the loss column. I'd like to see the Astros make it since they have been terrible for so long and the Asheville Tourists used to be one of their farm teams.
 
Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
A post on FB today reminds me that this is the anniversary of Bobby Thomson's famous home run to win the 1951 NL pennant over the Dodgers.

Before I was born, and before the Giants moved to SF, but still a cherished part of the team history.

It's things like this that keep my love of the game alive.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
The first playoff game will start in, oh, about 11 hours. The AL wild card game: Astros @ Yankees. Any predictions? Preferences?

Last year, the Astros were one of the worst teams in baseball, and it has been a surprise how well they have done. Before the season began, they were expected to be in last place in the AL West, with a projected record of 77-85. Instead, they finished in second place in the West with an 86-76 record.

But, prior to the start of the season, little was expected of the Yankees either. They were projected to finish last in the AL East with a 79-83 record. Instead, they finished second at 87-75.

(All discussed projections were by the stats wizards at Baseball Prospectus--proving that stats can only take you so far.)

I will be cheering for the 'Stros, but only because I can't stand the Yankees.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

I will be cheering for the 'Stros, but only because I can't stand the Yankees.
Me too. We wild carders have to stick together. One of the first things I learned about baseball was that notwithstanding Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, everyone except fans of the Yankees hates the Yankees. They are generally regarded as the Manchester United of baseball.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
Good to see the Astros win.
 
Posted by Timothy the Obscure (# 292) on :
 
Or at least good to see the Yanks lose. (For a Giants fan, there is nothing more horrifying than the prospect of a Yankees-Dodgers World Series--how do you decide who to root against?)
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
World Series eliminator tonight at PNC Park.

Even though I'm a Pirates fan I reckon Arrieta is the better pitcher so if we win, we will do so by keeping the Cubs to very few runs and sneaking just enough ourselves.

Bucs to win in extras.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Yes, the Cubs-Pirates game tonight should be a good one. They hold the 3rd and 2nd best records in MLB this year, although in head-to-head games, Chicago has had the edge.

Looking at the Baseball Prospectus preseason predictions, BP thought the Cubs would finish 2nd in the NL Central, with an 85-77 record. Instead, they finished 3rd with a 97-65 record. BP was less enthusiastic about the Pirates, who were expected to tie for 3rd with an 81-81 record. Instead, they finished 2nd at 98-64.

The Cubs are pitching Arrieta, a 22-game winner and strong candidate for the Cy Young Award, but the Pirates' Cole (a 19-game winner) is no slob.

The Cubs finished the season with an 8-game winning streak, while the Pirates were just playing .500 ball. But, honestly, I don't think that matters much.

Personally, I will be cheering for the Pirates.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
It is 4-0 in the top of the 8th. A one game wild card playoff is such a coin flip.
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!! CUBS WIN!!!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Yes, I know [Frown]

The "who's got the best pitcher in a one-off" contest was won decisively by Jake Arrieta.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Yes, I know [Frown]

The "who's got the best pitcher in a one-off" contest was won decisively by Jake Arrieta.
Which was a repeat of last year as well if I remember correctly.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
The Pirates had a great year, again. Having a one game wild card helps keep more teams in the running for the playoffs but knowing it is a one game affair also tells the teams who are currently wild card to not let up and try to win the division. The Pirates need to haul off and do just that.
 
Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :
 
I think the wildcard needs to be longer than one game suden death, although I did enjoy watching the Yankees go down to defeat.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
So now we are ready to start the so-called divisional series, which are Best-of-5 series. Today's lineup is from the AL.

Texas @ Toronto: These two division winners are more examples of Baseball Prospectus being wrong. The preseason guess was that Texas would end up 4th in the AL west with a 79-83 record. Instead, they won the west at 88-74. Toronto was expected to be 3rd in the AL East at 80-82, but instead won the East at 93-69.

Tonight's pitchers: Gallardo for Texas went 13-11 and has a 3.42 ERA. He is not the best pitcher on their staff, but I think Texas needed to use their better ones to win the division and avoid the wild card game. Toronto is using their best, Price, who went 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA.

Houston @ Kansas City: I discussed Houston for the wild card. Today's pitcher for the 'Stros is McHugh, 19-7 record, 3.89 ERA.

Kansas City also outperformed the BP preseason prediction. BP thought they would end up in 4th place in the AL Central with a 73-89 record. Instead, they finished in first at 95-67. The Royals' pitcher tonight is Venture, 13-8 with a 4.08 ERA.

I am not sure who I think will win the series, but I'll predict Toronto and KC to win tonight.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
The Pirates had a great year, again. Having a one game wild card helps keep more teams in the running for the playoffs but knowing it is a one game affair also tells the teams who are currently wild card to not let up and try to win the division. The Pirates need to haul off and do just that.
Next year we have to start winning earlier. On May 21 we were 18-22. Since then 80-42! Ok, excluding last night. [Frown]
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:

The "who's got the best pitcher in a one-off" contest was won decisively by Jake Arrieta.
Sure was. Arrieta was really ON and, unfortunately for the Pirates, Cole wasn't. The Pirates have had a great season and I wish them well for next year.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
Okay, so my predictions are at 1-3. I might do better if I just flipped a coin.

More interestingly, considering the fuss people make over having "the home field advantage," so far in these playoffs the home team is 0-4.

Today's games:

Texas @ Toronto: Hamels (13-8, 3.65 ERA) v. Stroman (4-0, 1.67 ERA). My coin flip says Toronto.

Houston @ KC: Kazmir (7-11, 3.10 ERA) v. Cueto (11-13, 3.44 ERA). And the coin says: Houston

Cubs v. St. Louis: Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA) v. Lackey (13-10, 2.77 ERA). Coin pick: Cubs

Mets @ La Dodgers: deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA) v. Kershaw (16-7, 2.13 ERA). Coin pick: La Dodgers
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
I've got Toronto, KC, St Louis, LA Dodgers.

The only one I feel confident about is the Dodgers. The Kershaw factor is in play again.
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Definitely a pitcher's game tonight. My boys had opening night jitters. It will go better. Nice job, Cards.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:

The "who's got the best pitcher in a one-off" contest was won decisively by Jake Arrieta.
Sure was. Arrieta was really ON and, unfortunately for the Pirates, Cole wasn't. The Pirates have had a great season and I wish them well for next year.
With Arrieta as on as he was, it doesn't matter what Cole did. The Pirates could have put Cole's mom out there and it wouldn't have hurt them any more than Arrieta did.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
I've got Toronto, KC, St Louis, LA Dodgers.

The only one I feel confident about is the Dodgers. The Kershaw factor is in play again.
Sometimes even Kershaw can't win with just one run of support.

I saw something interesting last night on MLB. Kershaw, like David Price, have not had good post seasons.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
I've got Toronto, KC, St Louis, LA Dodgers.

The only one I feel confident about is the Dodgers. The Kershaw factor is in play again.
Sometimes even Kershaw can't win with just one run of support.

I saw something interesting last night on MLB. Kershaw, like David Price, have not had good post seasons.
Most of the blame should go to Mattingly. He should have pulled him a lot earlier. Kershaw looked exhausted.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
deGrom just pitched better on the night. Maybe Kershaw's October record got in his head a bit? But he did look tired.

If the Mets overturn Greinke, that would about do it for the Dodgers. But I'm confident they wont.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
Thoughts on Utley's slide? I thought it was dirty. Not that I condone retaliation but I think Utley's going to get beaned on Monday.

I'm very happy the Cubs won. Thought the Mets were going to New York 2-0 but everything went downhill after that collision.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Perhaps. However, I think that would result in an ejection of the pitcher. I predict my Dodgers will win the series by a small margin.
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
Utley's slide was so mis-directed he never touched second base! I don't know what business they had arguing that Tejada didn't touch second when Utley never came near it. Very ugly.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
At least we won on Saturday - hope we win again today!
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
Gotta pull for the Mets since my daughter is moving to Brooklyn to get married. Besides, as Timothy the Obscure says . . .

"We hatesss the Dodgerssss--we hates them forever!"
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mere Nick:
Gotta pull for the Mets since my daughter is moving to Brooklyn to get married. Besides, as Timothy the Obscure says . . .

"We hatesss the Dodgerssss--we hates them forever!"
I think this is it for the Dodgers. Going back to Kershaw this early is a bit desperate. As for the Cubs I'm hoping today is it but my faith is weak.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
I have been away from my computer for a few days (and next week may be worse). I've lost count of the home wins thing, but I did hear that, so far, in the Toronto-Texas series, the home team has lost every game!

But on to the Cubbies: They just won to (a) advance to the NLCS and (b) make sure that St. Louis does not get back to the World Series this year! Ye of little faith, Prester John!
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
I know! I believe, help me with my unbelief!
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
Kershaw pitched very well on short rest. That sets up a great pitching finale; deGrom v Greinke. I think Greinke might take that one. He wasn't typical Greinke in his first win but he rarely pitches two mediocre games in succession. Think I might stay up for that one.

And many congrats to the Cubs. Whoever wins on Thursday night will have their hands full with them in the NL final.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

But on to the Cubbies: They just won to (a) advance to the NLCS and (b) make sure that St. Louis does not get back to the World Series this year! Ye of little faith, Prester John!
Congratulations to the Cubs and it shows that the Pirates loss to them, coming on top of our poor record against them, was no fluke.

I wouldn't be surprised if they, as the team that beats us, goes on to win the NL, per the last two seasons.

[ 14. October 2015, 11:44: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
And for once the two best regular season teams get to the ALCS. Congrats to them. I favour the Royals, just, to get through tithe WS.

I still think the Dodgers will win tonight, But whoever wins, the NLCS looks very tasty!

[ 15. October 2015, 06:37: Message edited by: Barnabas62 ]
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
Murphy made the difference in a very close one. deGrom pitched a fighting bad/good 6 innings, showing lots of guts and strong nerve, and Familia pitched a great close. Tough loss for Greinke and the Dodgers. Great, tense, game to watch unless you were a Dodgers fan.

Mets/Cubs! Bring it on! I foresee a few more late nighters in my immediate future. Both teams look good in clutch situations. That's the way we like it!
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
So we have Blue Jays-Royals and Cubbies-Mets.

I only pay casual attention to the American League, but I gather that Toronto and Kansas City have some bad blood between them, so that series may be a little tense. Hopefully, the Toronto fans will restrain their desire to fling bottles in the stands. We have had quite enough of that for one post-season.

By contrast, I expect the Cubs/Mets series to just be fun. And, regardless of who wins, I will be cheering for them in the World Series.
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I was a Dodger fan and I'll be one again next season. I am cheering for the Blue Jays.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
I expect the Cubs/Mets series to just be fun. And, regardless of who wins, I will be cheering for them in the World Series.
Ditto. The National League rules, rightly so, because of its rules.

It's more relaxing when you're not a team fan, of course. I died a thousand deaths in the last post-season, and reckon my pulse rate went up to about 150 in the 9th inning at the end of Bumgarner's epic 5 innings save. So I'm looking forward to the fun.
 
Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Sigh. No joy in Mudville.
 
Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :
 
Well that was as enjoyable as a kick in the groin. They couldn't anything going against a team they swept in the regular season. Maybe next year- unless the Giants get in.

Unless the Blue Jays can pull off their own miracle it looks to be Mets vs Royals. I have no idea who to support. [Frown]
 
Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Prester John:
Well that was as enjoyable as a kick in the groin.
Pretty much, and I'm not even a Cubs fan.

quote:
Unless the Blue Jays can pull off their own miracle it looks to be Mets vs Royals. I have no idea who to support. [Frown]
The Royals, because they're not the New York team!
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Some time ago I suggested that the NLC was a "World Series Primary".

Wrong. Had the Pirates an ace pitcher and therefore a better chance in a Wild Card one-off I honestly reckon we would have given the rest of the NL a tough time.

Now I have a quandary: Mets (of the NL) or one of KC & the Blue Jays? How well will the Mets perform if Murphy, who is seeing the ball like a football right now, loses his magic? I might cheer the officials.
 
Posted by sharkshooter (# 1589) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:


quote:
Unless the Blue Jays can pull off their own miracle it looks to be Mets vs Royals. I have no idea who to support. [Frown]
The Royals, because they're not the New York team!
I'd be with you on that one - except that if the Royals beat the Jays, I could not support them.

But, I still believe in the Blue Jays! Pay back for 1985.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
I'll be rooting for the Mets. They are NL and they have the Mo. Those outweigh the NY factor in my book.

I don't think the recent stats for the WS favour a team which sweeps their Championship Series. The long break between games seems to cool off a team on a hot streak. But I can't see me switching away from the NL.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
KC definitely have the upper hand, although I think they had all the good fortune going in game one. That infield homer was all thanks to some pretty ordinary outfielding. Game two was different.

The Mets now need to do better than 4-1 over the remainder of the series, which probably means winning all three home games. KC look fired up after coming so close last season and it looks to me like, with that extended break from disposing of the Cubs so easily, that Daniel Murphy might have lost his magic.

The Mets could do well to drag the Series into November. Watch that prediction send the Series to game seven!
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
That was a well deserved WS win by the Royals. And, yes, the hex of a Championship Series sweep struck again. The Mets lost something between CS and WS.
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
If you come from behind in the ninth to tie the game, you probably deserve it. Well played KC.

Here's one for people who know the game better than me: the game, and especially this post-season, seems to be littered with starting pitchers left in too long. Can't coaches pull them before they lose form? I know starters want to stay in, but there must be some signs that their control is going.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
If you come from behind in the ninth to tie the game, you probably deserve it. Well played KC.

Here's one for people who know the game better than me: the game, and especially this post-season, seems to be littered with starting pitchers left in too long. Can't coaches pull them before they lose form? I know starters want to stay in, but there must be some signs that their control is going.
A pitcher can be pulled any time but then he is out for the rest of the game. It seems that signs of a pitcher losing his edge would be his fastball getting a little bit slower, throwing more balls, putting more up in the zone, not hitting his spots, and, sometimes, folks just have your number and hitting well off of you even though you are throwing well. Looks like Collins blew it by letting Harvey go back out there.
 
Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
If you come from behind in the ninth to tie the game, you probably deserve it. Well played KC.
Agreed. KC's ability to keep fighting back was impressive and they are rightfully crowned champs.

On the ability to pull the pitcher, Mere Nick has it right. The manager can pull a pitcher any time. Even in the first inning. But last night Harvey had shut out KC through 8 innings. It is tough to pull out a pitcher who is throwing a shut out. After all, there is no guaranty that the next pitcher you bring in is going to do any better (and, in fact, Addison Reed did far worse in the 12th). As Mere Nick says, there can be signs that a pitcher is laboring and, in that case, you might pull him even with a shut out going, but by the end of the 8th Harvey had put down the last 6 batters he faced. That didn't look like he was losing it.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
If you come from behind in the ninth to tie the game, you probably deserve it. Well played KC.
Agreed. KC's ability to keep fighting back was impressive and they are rightfully crowned champs.

On the ability to pull the pitcher, Mere Nick has it right. The manager can pull a pitcher any time. Even in the first inning. But last night Harvey had shut out KC through 8 innings. It is tough to pull out a pitcher who is throwing a shut out. After all, there is no guaranty that the next pitcher you bring in is going to do any better (and, in fact, Addison Reed did far worse in the 12th). As Mere Nick says, there can be signs that a pitcher is laboring and, in that case, you might pull him even with a shut out going, but by the end of the 8th Harvey had put down the last 6 batters he faced. That didn't look like he was losing it.
If they had left him in he may have struck out the next three or gave up a dozen runs. As Yogi said, "In baseball, you don't know nothing".
 
Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Thanks guys. It's all part of the game. You can be a dozen runs down with two out in the ninth and come back from that.
 
Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 
"It ain't over til it's over."

Yogi Berra
 
Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
It's over and so is Formula One, being as Lewis has clinched the title!
 


© Ship of Fools 2016

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.5.0