Go rays

[Elktonnick]

I hope the Rays don’t win. I don’t want the Opener Strategy to catch on...

 

Having watched a game at the Trop that place is such a dump it would be a travesty to play any championship baseball there.

[moonslav59]

Having watched a game at the Trop that place is such a dump it would be a travesty to play any championship baseball there.

 

I saw the opening game of the season Sox loss in the closer by committee year.

 

I liked the stadium and atmosphere. Nothing special,of course, but a pleasant experience, until the 9th inning.

[fxkatt]

Nope.

 

I will only pull for the Rays if they are playing the Yankees.

 

Otherwise, it's anyone but the Rays.

 

Do you mean that bad blood between us and them a few years back? I'm over that because I'm impressed with what they can accomplish with so little and on so little. And to boot, no fans to cheer them to the point of re-scheduling home games way up north in Montreal, Canada

[d-money]

I’m rooting for houston because there’s no way the rays are beating the Yankees in the ALCS. Also I have no faith in the twins despite the fact that they have a better team era when it comes to the pitching.

[S5Dewey]

Astros vs. Twinkies works for me.

 

We're two-for-two tonight, Kimmie.

[S5Dewey]

Do you mean that bad blood between us and them a few years back? I'm over that because I'm impressed with what they can accomplish with so little and on so little. And to boot, no fans to cheer them to the point of re-scheduling home games way up north in Montreal, Canada

 

No team should be rooted for when their fans bring cow bells to a game.

[fxkatt]

No team should be rooted for when their fans bring cow bells to a game.

 

Well, you gotta point, there.

[fxkatt]

Tonight. I wish I trusted Minny pitching more, esp against the Yanks. In the post-season, good pitching can often be critical... Which is why Houston and LA are heavy favorites. And Minny can't match NY's relief staff, nor can they match home games.

[Maxbialystock]

Given current realities, this is a pretty good thread. While I appreciate the commentary on the Trop--probably the worst park in MLB--I still like the Rays story, but this does not mean I don't respect any and all other favorites. The Rays had the play-in game, but their overall approach to pitching means it probably cost them less than other wild card teams. Whatever the reason, the score in game 1 with the Astros is 0-0 after 3 1/2.

[fxkatt]

What a huge baseball day. A quadruple header.... each of much interest. Rays still tied at 0-0 in bottom of 5th. Two runs may do it.

[Kimmi]

I hope the Rays don’t win. I don’t want the Opener Strategy to catch on...

 

Too late for that.

 

I am concerned that the role of the starting pitcher will never be the same.

[Kimmi]

Do you mean that bad blood between us and them a few years back? I'm over that because I'm impressed with what they can accomplish with so little and on so little. And to boot, no fans to cheer them to the point of re-scheduling home games way up north in Montreal, Canada

 

Yeah, I have not liked the Rays since then. You do have to be impressed with how good they are with such a small payroll, and especially impressed with how good they are with developing/coaching their pitchers.

[Kimmi]

We're two-for-two tonight, Kimmie.

 

Woot! Keep the analytics out of things, and we agree on pretty much everything. LOL

[d-money]

I would love to give the twins a chance. They have been road warriors this year. They went 101-61 this year but they always seem to look pathetic against the Yankees.

[Kimmi]

I would love to give the twins a chance. They have been road warriors this year. They went 101-61 this year but they always seem to look pathetic against the Yankees.

 

Unfortunately, the Twins don't stand a chance. No matter how good they are, when they face the Yankees, they just roll over and die.

[Bellhorn04]

Unfortunately, the Twins don't stand a chance. No matter how good they are, when they face the Yankees, they just roll over and die.

 

Which is crazy, because it's a whole different team now.

 

Can this team break the mold?

 

We'll soon find out.

[d-money]

Which is crazy, because it's a whole different team now.

 

Can this team break the mold?

 

We'll soon find out.

 

Berrios will have to throw strikes.

[fxkatt]

The Yanks have some potent lineup with everybody back. It's not going to help the Twins lack of confidence with this team.

[d-money]

The Yanks have some potent lineup with everybody back. It's not going to help the Twins lack of confidence with this team.

 

The Twinkies are a joke everytime they face the yanks. Let’s face it.

[d-money]

Berrios is imploding. What a shocker.

[TylerD]

Which is crazy, because it's a whole different team now.

 

Can this team break the mold?

 

We'll soon find out.

 

Not looking like it

 

Typical game. Minnesota keeps it close but in the end same result. Still lots of time left though.

[Kimmi]

Which is crazy, because it's a whole different team now.

 

Can this team break the mold?

 

We'll soon find out.

 

It's crazy that even though both teams are completely different, the Twins still can't overcome the Yankees.

 

I know that's the case with other teams or players too. It has to be in their heads.

[notin]

Berrios did have a good season overall, but he really wasn’t that effective for the final two months, in which his ERA was 5.83 and his OPSA was .835.

 

This was no real surprise...

[Bellhorn04]

Berrios did have a good season overall, but he really wasn’t that effective for the final two months, in which his ERA was 5.83 and his OPSA was .835.

 

This was no real surprise...

 

Yuck.

[bosoxmal]

Watching the Yankees once again show, emphatically, the difference between the divisions. Excepting (maybe) Houston, the 3 best teams in baseball are in the East. And one of them has the lowest payroll in baseball, (I think)

[harmony]

Watching the Yankees once again show, emphatically, the difference between the divisions. Excepting (maybe) Houston, the 3 best teams in baseball are in the East. And one of them has the lowest payroll in baseball, (I think)

Those three teams had the advantage of playing in an American League East division that finished with a cumulative regular-season record under .500 at 404-406 (.499).

 

The Minnesota Twins had the advantage of playing in an American League Central division with a cumulative regular-season record of 372-436 (.460).

 

None of those clubs played in the powerful American League West with its cumulative regular-season record of 422-388 (.521).

 

In its team ratings, one website has the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers as the clear top teams with Yankees third, the Athletics fifth, the Rays eighth, the Twins 10th and the Red Sox 11th:

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/

[fxkatt]

Twins. Average Minus pitching doesn't cut it in the playoffs, esp when you're playing in a small park against a murderers row lineup. I expect a sweep.

[bosoxmal]

Those three teams had the advantage of playing in an American League East division that finished with a cumulative regular-season record under .500 at 404-406 (.499).

 

The Minnesota Twins had the advantage of playing in an American League Central division with a cumulative regular-season record of 372-436 (.460).

 

None of those clubs played in the powerful American League West with its cumulative regular-season record of 422-388 (.521).

 

In its team ratings, one website has the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers as the clear top teams with Yankees third, the Athletics fifth, the Rays eighth, the Twins 10th and the Red Sox 11th:

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/

Exactly. They played each other about 20% of the time. How many time did the Twins get to play Detroit

[d-money]

My last hope is the stros who in my mind is the best team in baseball but you have to get the results on the field. Edited October 6, 2019 by d-money

[fxkatt]

My last hope is the stros who in my mind are the best team in baseball but you have to get the results on the field.

 

And they're very good at doing that.