2023 MLB postseason thread

[moonslav59]

Braves big hitters looked a little tired in yesterday's game.

 

Yes, the days off hurt them!

 

I now see the genius in Cora. He gives them days off to ready them for all the days off they get in the playoffs!

 

Brilliant!

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, the days off hurt them!

 

I now see the genius in Cora. He gives them days off to ready them for all the days off they get in the playoffs!

 

Brilliant!

 

Better late than never, moon.

[Maxbialystock]

Yes, the days off hurt them!

 

I now see the genius in Cora. He gives them days off to ready them for all the days off they get in the playoffs!

 

Brilliant!

 

I know you're being sarcastic, but would remind you that the games played by the top seven Sox position players in 2018 make it clear that missing a bunch of games, whether because of Cora or injury, did not prevent that team from being the best Sox team ever and one of the best MLB teams ever.

 

I have also acknowledged that the Braves preference for playing their top 3 or 4 players as often as possible has worked for them.

 

The problems with this year's Sox were mostly pitching, which was definitely affected by multiple injuries (Sale, Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Paxton, etc) and by the brutal 48 games in August-September with just 3 days off. The injuries to Story and Duvall also affected the righty bats in the Sox lineup. Of the top seven Sox hitters--based on total bases by each hitter--5 were lefties and 2 (Turner and Duvall) were righties. Story, who signed for 6 years and $140M 2 years ago, was 15th in total bases.

[moonslav59]

I know you're being sarcastic, but would remind you that the games played by the top seven Sox position players in 2018 make it clear that missing a bunch of games, whether because of Cora or injury, did not prevent that team from being the best Sox team ever and one of the best MLB teams ever.

 

I have also acknowledged that the Braves preference for playing their top 3 or 4 players as often as possible has worked for them.

 

The problems with this year's Sox were mostly pitching, which was definitely affected by multiple injuries (Sale, Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Paxton, etc) and by the brutal 48 games in August-September with just 3 days off. The injuries to Story and Duvall also affected the righty bats in the Sox lineup. Of the top seven Sox hitters--based on total bases by each hitter--5 were lefties and 2 (Turner and Duvall) were righties. Story, who signed for 6 years and $140M 2 years ago, was 15th in total bases.

 

We know about the 2018 team and don't need reminding.

 

Fun Fact: Did you know 5 of the top 7 batters by PAs on that 2018 team batted righty?

[moonslav59]

Better late than never, moon.

 

Some brilliancy is very well-hidden.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Some brilliancy is very well-hidden.

 

 

If we could completely drop the resting discussion, it would suit me fine. Another topic that's reached dead horse status, I'd say.

[moonslav59]

If we could completely drop the resting discussion, it would suit me fine. Another topic that's reached dead horse status, I'd say.

 

Agreed. It's just not a major issue, anyway- even on slow times.

[redsoxrules]

Nate continuing to dominate in the post season

[moonslav59]

Nate continuing to dominate in the post season

 

Nate Nails

[Maxbialystock]

We know about the 2018 team and don't need reminding.

 

Fun Fact: Did you know 5 of the top 7 batters by PAs on that 2018 team batted righty?

 

Yes, I did know that. It's one of the reasons why I keep harping on righty bats. The 2013 solved that problem by having several switch hitters. The 2007 Sox had Mike Lowell, Youk, Manny, and Pedey. 2004, Manny, Millar Bellhorn, Tek, and Mueller. Tek and Mueller were switch hitters.

[notin]

Orioles trailing tonight 6-0, and the AL East facing a collective 0-7 in the postseason.

 

I don’t buy that this means the AL East was overrated. Those 7 games are not a better sample than the 810 games the division played in the regular season.

 

But it did highlight the collective nap the division took at the trade deadline. As much as I’ve been down on Bloom for giving up in early August, the entire AL East that day added the following: Luis Urias, Aaron Civale, Jordan Hicks, Paul DeJeong, Jack Flaherty, and Keynan Middleton.

 

I guess by getting Civale, Tampa was the “all in” team.

 

Granted, most organizations are down on the Toronto and NY farm systems. But Tampa and Baltimore are universally in the top ten. Baltimore is number one and only came out of the deadline with their 7th best starting pitcher.

 

Seriously, what the $&?@;/!?

Edited October 11, 2023 by notin

[Maxbialystock]

Agreed. It's just not a major issue, anyway- even on slow times.

 

I only bring it up when I see yet another complaint--sometimes by you--about how Crazy Cora rested someone. You have said it often enough for others to assume it must be true: resting players is stupid and the reason why the Sox have had lousy seasons in 2022 and 2023.

[moonslav59]

I only bring it up when I see yet another complaint--sometimes by you--about how Crazy Cora rested someone. You have said it often enough for others to assume it must be true: resting players is stupid and the reason why the Sox have had lousy seasons in 2022 and 2023.

 

Max, I'm giving my opinion. Nobody thinks the resting is why we sucked. If others assume it's true, then good- they agree with me.

 

I still love having Cora as our manager.

 

It was a topic worthy of debate. It has run its course.

[Maxbialystock]

Orioles trailing tonight 6-0, and the AL East facing a collective 0-7 in the postseason.

 

I don’t buy that this means the AL East was overrated. Those 7 games are not a better sample than the 810 games the division played in the regular season.

 

But it did highlight the collective nap the division took at the trade deadline. As much as I’ve been down on Bloom for giving up in early August, the entire AL East that day added the following: Luis Urias, Aaron Civale, Jordan Hicks, Paul DeJeong, and Keynan Middleton.

 

I guess by getting Civale, Tampa was the “all in” team.

 

Granted, most organizations are down on the Toronto and NY farm systems. But Tampa and Baltimore are universally in the top ten. Baltimore is number one and only came out of the deadline with their 7th best starting pitcher.

 

Seriously, what the $&?@;/!?

 

I was just about to post that the AL East was over-rated, so thanks for those insights.

 

Let's not forget that the 101 win Orioles and the 99 win Rays still only won 6 out of every 10 freaking games. The Rays were squashed by the Astros, who won 5 1/2 out of every 6 games this season. Same goes for the Rangers, who are about to take 3 of 3 from the Orioles.

 

Guess which current AL East Manager has the best record (17-8) in the postseason (and by a big margin)?

Edited October 11, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[dgalehouse]

An Orioles loss tonight would make it eleven straight post season losses for the A.L. East. One thing about the A.L. East : They don't have one ( sometimes two ) God awful teams like most other divisions do. They are competitive, top to bottom. But they are clearly not the strongest division at or near the top.

[moonslav59]

Pontification Central

[Jasonbay44]

Happy for Nate Eovaldi

[notin]

An Orioles loss tonight would make it eleven straight post season losses for the A.L. East. One thing about the A.L. East : They don't have one ( sometimes two ) God awful teams like most other divisions do. They are competitive, top to bottom. But they are clearly not the strongest division at or near the top.

 

Two of the three remaining AL teams were clearly all in at the deadline. Texas all but crawled in to the post season but did so with Scherzer and Montgomery on their roster, and the Astros did with Verlander, who was acquired with an offer the Orioles could have easily topped…

[harmony]

This year rhe Red Sox won as many postseason games as the Orioles, Rays and Blue Jays combined.

[moonslav59]

This year rhe Red Sox won as many postseason games as the Orioles, Rays and Blue Jays combined.

 

The comeback has begun!

[redsoxrules]

I can't even watch any of the games today. They are not playing on my cable TV and can't watch it on the mlb TV as it's blacked out. What a croc of s***

[a700hitter]

I can't even watch any of the games today. They are not playing on my cable TV and can't watch it on the mlb TV as it's blacked out. What a croc of s***

Do you stream on FUBO?

[Jasonbay44]

I can't even watch any of the games today. They are not playing on my cable TV and can't watch it on the mlb TV as it's blacked out. What a croc of s***

 

What do you use? I have all the games on YouTube TV, and they were on at my work who has Verizon.

[Jasonbay44]

Bryce Harper is one hell of a playoff performer

[Jasonbay44]

Diamondbacks up 4-0 and on the verge of sweeping the heavily favored dodgers. Wow

[redsoxrules]

What do you use? I have all the games on YouTube TV, and they were on at my work who has Verizon.

 

I'm in Canada so I have Bell. Didn't know you could watch this on YouTube TV

[redsoxrules]

All top teams with best record could be out if Atlanta loses to the Phillies. Who would of thought that.

 

Dodgers can't seem to perform in the playoffs. Freeman and Betts did absolutely nothing. In fact Betts has 3 hits in his last 40 post season AB.

[moonslav59]

All top teams with best record could be out if Atlanta loses to the Phillies. Who would of thought that.

 

I've been trying to believe the playoffs are NOT a crapshoot.

[Bellhorn04]

I've been trying to believe the playoffs are NOT a crapshoot.

 

They're not a total crapshoot, but there's plenty of crapshootiness.

[Bellhorn04]

The Dodgers' rotation was in bad shape going into the playoffs, but that doesn't explain their offense's futility.

 

Maybe just some excellent pitching and game planning by Arizona.