MLB 2019

[MudShark22]

While i have no objection to the one game WC, still believe Brewers were better team. In a 3 game series, I would absolutely bet on Brewers even as the road team. "Natinal" bullpen is so weak...

And now, no Front Row Amy in 4k HD! :-(

[ronmac]

Ah shit, it's only baseball! (j/k Ron- don't want you to hyperventilate)

No hyperventilating, big boy. Hope you slept well last night.

[ronmac]

Go Rays, for one more round.

[ronmac]

Looks like Sabbathia did not make the round 1 roster due to his shoulder "not bouncing back" from his last start.

After last week, I suspected he would be there as a lefty specialist and that seemed to be the plan.

[ledsox]

I hadn't known the Rays were last in payroll this year. There are your mgr and front office of the year, imo.

Interesting about CC. I thought he went 1 scoreless inning in relief last week to gear him up for the PS. I guess he will be the largest cheerleader now.

[ronmac]

I hadn't known the Rays were last in payroll this year. There are your mgr and front office of the year, imo.

Interesting about CC. I thought he went 1 scoreless inning in relief last week to gear him up for the PS. I guess he will be the largest cheerleader now.

It's the shoulder with CC> He had a cortisone shot this week and it's, apparently, not working.

All bias aside, I think Boone will get the MoTY nod. They had 39 trips to the IL this year.

The Rays had the lowest total payroll, but not the lowest roster payroll. Still, they clearly don't spend like some other teams. I saw that the Pirates' roster payroll was a paltry $28M.

[JAMOOL]

Being here in Nats country, that was a fun game. Given the last few postseason appearances, it was absolutely the right move to pitch Strasburg in that game considering their other options. I feel bad for the rookie Grisham.

Stras was damn near unhittable. Those pitches were absolutely nasty - several of Milwaukee's batters twisted outward as though they thought the ball was gonna hit them, then wound up taking a strike on the corner. Probably helped that the ump's strike zone was incredibly wide, though to be fair Milwaukee probably benefitted more from that. Doesn't really matter when Hader's fastballs are 18 inches high (Suter seemed all over the map as well, I'm surprised he got 3 outs pitching like that). As for Grisham...hell of a time to commit your first major league error, even rougher considering that it was Yelich who was supposed to be out there. Looking at it again the ball just took an unfortunate hop as he was trying to charge it in an attempt to make a throw home...he had no chance to get the runner but I can't blame him for trying in that situation. It's a one-game playoff. I hope he's able to shake it off. He was sort of a revelation this year, did not really think of him as one of Milwaukee's better prospects but he looks like he could easily be a 3-4 WAR player next year.

[ronmac]

^^ Yep, it was definitely a bad hop.

[Casey]

Callaway is out of a job in Flushing.

Ok, everyone join with me in chanting "Wally Wally Wally."

A guy who is rough around the edges but knows his baseball & can squeeze performance out of any player, despite the manicured beards, jewelry, or other affectations. Just what this organization needs.

[IMWeasel]

Who should replace Bochey on the Giants now that he's gone?

[ronmac]

It ain't over 'til it's over, but it looks like NY and Houston in the ALCS. That Houston pitching is scary. Scarier than NY's lineup, I fear.

[ronmac]

I like what I'm seeing from those Rays today. There's still a glimmer of hope for them.

[ronmac]

Looks like Verlander will start Game 4 vs. Rays on short rest.

Interesting.

[mnprogger]

16 years of the same result.

............................................______ __........................
....................................,.-‘”...................``~.,..................
.............................,.-”...................................“-.,............
.........................,/...............................................”:, ........
.....................,?........................... ...........................\,.....
.................../.................................................. .........,}....
................./.................................................. ....,:`^`..}....
.............../.................................................. .,:”........./.....
..............?.....__............................ .............:`.........../.....
............./__.(.....“~-,_..............................,:`........../........
.........../(_....”~,_........“~,_....................,:`..... ..._/...........
..........{.._$;_......”=,_.......“-,_.......,.-~-,},.~”;/....}...........
...........((.....*~_.......”=-._......“;,,./`..../”............../............
...,,,___.\`~,......“~.,....................`..... }............../.............
............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-”...............
............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\...................
.............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__...........
,,_..........}.gt;-._\...................................|........... ...`=~-,....
.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\... .....................
...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\............. ..........
................................`:,,.............. .............`\..............__..
.....................................`=-,...................,%`gt;--==``.......
........................................_\........ ..._,-%.......`\...............
...................................,lt;`.._|_,-;``................`\..............

[ronmac]

^^ I can make out the hand, but what's the rest of it?

[NogbadTheBad]

Star Trek Picard Facepalm.

[Poisoned Youth]

I don't want to add salt to the wound, but that outcome is pretty embarrassing for a team that won 101 games! I realize that's partially inflated given the AL Central was the weakest of the divisions, but still.

[Poisoned Youth]

Meanwhile, two exciting game 5s tomorrow. I'm hopeful the Nats can pull it off. Watching old Zimm smack that 3 run homer yesterday really lit up the town. The Braves really blew their shot yesterday to close out that series. With Flaherty on the mound tomorrow, it's anyone's game.

[Jerjo]

I don't want to add salt to the wound, but that outcome is pretty embarrassing for a team that won 101 games! I realize that's partially inflated given the AL Central was the weakest of the divisions, but still.

The offense just plain choked - no doubt about it. I can see the young 'uns folding, they've never been in a playoff situation before. But for guys like Nelly Cruz and Marwin Gonzalez, there's no excuse. The Twins pitching staff has been in trouble for months, this just brought it home. Only two starters return next year and about half the 'pen. The front office needs to decide if they want to level up, or be stingy. Given their past history, I expect they'll sign more has-beens or schlubs coming off Tommy John surgery.

[ronmac]

I don't want to add salt to the wound, but that outcome is pretty embarrassing for a team that won 101 games! I realize that's partially inflated given the AL Central was the weakest of the divisions, but still.

I certainly was expecting more. It simply looked like everything was going NY's way. All the bounces, the great plays. I ain't complainin'.

Houston will be tougher, though, assuming they can get past TB.

[ronmac]

Any bets on Verlander on three days rest tonight? Not me.

The NLDS series have turned out to be pretty exciting. Certainly more than they started out to be. I haven't watched a whole lot, except to see if the Dodgers are losing.

Saturday's a long time to wait for round 2. I do think there is such a thing as momentum, especially in the playoffs. I know others have scoffed at it. I think it's real.

I guess I'm "obsessed." Or, maybe I'm just a fan of the game.

[JAMOOL]

as exciting as it would be for TB to take out this gargantuan Astros team you just know they'd get swept by the Yankees so that can't happen. sorry TB fans (wherever you are)

[ronmac]

as exciting as it would be for TB to take out this gargantuan Astros team you just know they'd get swept by the Yankees so that can't happen. sorry TB fans (wherever you are)

I wouldn't bet on that. The Rays are a talented team with very good pitching. While the Yankees might be slightly favored, it won't be a cakewalk, like the Twins turned out to be. Home field advantage would be nice, though.

[Poisoned Youth]

Any bets on Verlander on three days rest tonight? Not me.

The NLDS series have turned out to be pretty exciting. Certainly more than they started out to be. I haven't watched a whole lot, except to see if the Dodgers are losing.

Saturday's a long time to wait for round 2. I do think there is such a thing as momentum, especially in the playoffs. I know others have scoffed at it. I think it's real.

I guess I'm "obsessed." Or, maybe I'm just a fan of the game.

So we have 3 game 5s then!

I do agree with the momentum thing. It's not long lasting, but there's a tendency for the team that has "rested" to get caught off guard in game 1 of the next series. That said, if the Astros advance, they likely won't have Verlander and Cole until games 2 and 3. That may work in the Yanks favor if the series goes long.

The Rays, on the other hand, have that "complete" pitching staff. I would pretty much still write them off if they didn't have Glasnow back (and seemingly in decent form). Snell doesn't look like he will be used except for relief. This does add some question as to their ability to get through a 7 game series, but we'll see how it plays out...

[ronmac]

^ Yep, I think the seven-game series will be a bit different, too. I suspect starters will be asked to log more innings so the pens don't get stretched too thin. It's a grind. I suppose the determining factor would be whether a team decides to go with three starters or four, or if they use the opener strategy. The Rays have used openers a lot more than other teams.