2023 MLB postseason thread

[moonslav59]

Flintstone Schwarber is all, or nothing. Right now he’s all.

 

Ya-ba-da-ba-DOOoooo!

[dgalehouse]

Flintstone Schwarber is all, or nothing. Right now he’s all.

 

It is hard to find any fault with the whole team. Or the manager. Everything seems to be working.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Ya-ba-da-ba-DOOoooo!

 

Yabadaba-JUICED BALL!

 

Final Four:

Philly 19 HR in 8 games

Dbacks 14 HR in 7 games

Astros 13 HR in 6 games

Rangers 9 HR in 7 games

 

... vs. ostensibly, some of the better pitching staffs in the majors

[Bellhorn04]

I am a believer in momentum. The Phillies are riding a wave of it right now. They are playing with a ton of confidence. Hitting on all cylinders. The question is : Are they too hot not to cool down ?

 

Rangers are also playing well.

[Bellhorn04]

Yabadaba-JUICED BALL!

 

Final Four:

Philly 19 HR in 8 games

Dbacks 14 HR in 7 games

Astros 13 HR in 6 games

Rangers 9 HR in 7 games

 

... vs. ostensibly, some of the better pitching staffs in the majors

 

They wouldn't, would they?

 

Yeah, they would.

[dgalehouse]

Rangers are also playing well.

 

They really are. They got through their slump a while ago. Now, Scherzer is coming back .

[mvp 78]

They wouldn't, would they?

 

Yeah, they would.

 

Would.

[mvp 78]

They really are. They got through their slump a while ago. Now, Scherzer is coming back .

 

That may not help. The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be.

[dgalehouse]

That may not help. The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be.

 

I can relate to that.

[moonslav59]

I'm pulling for the Rangers to shut these Astros fans up.

[moonslav59]

Damn Astros pulled off a nice win on the road.

[notin]

That may not help. The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be.

 

Scherzer may have simply reached that point on his career where pitching the bulk of full season leaves him to w worn out for the postseason. He did poorly last year as well…

[mvp 78]

Scherzer may have simply reached that point on his career where pitching the bulk of full season leaves him to w worn out for the postseason. He did poorly last year as well…

 

He is 39 after all. That 43M contract is rough... He's probably only worth half of that.

[notin]

Yabadaba-JUICED BALL!

 

Final Four:

Philly 19 HR in 8 games

Dbacks 14 HR in 7 games

Astros 13 HR in 6 games

Rangers 9 HR in 7 games

 

... vs. ostensibly, some of the better pitching staffs in the majors

 

Arizona’s pitching staff isn’t really all that good. They ranked 22nd in fWAR, 20th in ERA, and 19th in FIP. For comparison, Boston ranked 20th in fWAR, 21st in ERA and 20th in FIP…

[mvp 78]

Arizona’s pitching staff isn’t really all that good. They ranked 22nd in fWAR, 20th in ERA, and 19th in FIP. For comparison, Boston ranked 20th in fWAR, 21st in ERA and 20th in FIP…

 

Their bullpen is a little shaky, but their starters were 14th overall in fWAR largely due to Gallen and Kelly. If those two can't get it done, it's over for the DBags.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Arizona’s pitching staff isn’t really all that good. They ranked 22nd in fWAR, 20th in ERA, and 19th in FIP. For comparison, Boston ranked 20th in fWAR, 21st in ERA and 20th in FIP…

 

It's hard to compare the two staffs with stats, since balls fly in AL West air found in places like Arizona and Colorado.

 

But Boston has to pitch in the OMG AL EAST -- the greatest division in history that never won a single postseason game in 2023!

[notin]

It's hard to compare the two staffs with stats, since balls fly in AL West air found in places like Arizona and Colorado.

 

But Boston has to pitch in the OMG AL EAST -- the greatest division in history that never won a single postseason game in 2023!

 

Actually it turns out the Sox staff was more the victims by that kind of thing, as they had the better xFIP of the two.

 

But as long as we’re making silly arguments that prefer 7 game sample sizes over 810 games, maybe the Red Sox had the toughest schedule in MLB because they had to play all those games against the AL East and they didn’t get to play even one game against the Red Sox…

Edited October 20, 2023 by notin

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Actually it turns out the Sox staff was more the victims by that kind of thing, as they had the better xFIP of the two.

 

But as long as we’re making silly arguments that prefer 7 game sample sizes over 810 games, maybe the Red Sox had the toughest schedule in MLB because they had to play all those games against the AL East and they didn’t get to play even one game against the Red Sox…

 

That's not silly, if we also acknowledge that maybe -- just maybe -- the tepid Red Sox pin cushions make all those AL East MONSTERS just look better than they actually are.

[notin]

That's not silly, if we also acknowledge that maybe -- just maybe -- the tepid Red Sox pin cushions make all those AL East MONSTERS just look better than they actually are.

 

No. It’s silly.

 

The AL East was a combined 449-361. Now against other AL East teams, the divisions aggregate record was .500, because it always is in every sport ever played. Against non-AL East teams, the AL East teams were 88 games over .500.

 

The combined record of the NL West was 404-406, which means again non-NL West teams, the division was under .500.

 

The Diamondbacks pitching was actually comparable to the Red Sox, but good enough in that weak division. They only won 6 more games, while playing in a division of weaker teams. This isn’t that much of a stretch.

 

We were all disappointed with the Sox staff this year, but it wasn’t the worst pitching staff in MLB. And it was helped out by what turned out to be a very good bullpen…

[Bellhorn04]

The Braves and Dodgers lost to teams in their own division that were 14 games worse and 16 games worse in the regular season.

 

Rob Manfred loves him some crapshoot.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No. It’s silly.

 

The AL East was a combined 449-361. Now against other AL East teams, the divisions aggregate record was .500, because it always is in every sport ever played. Against non-AL East teams, the AL East teams were 88 games over .500.

 

The combined record of the NL West was 404-406, which means again non-NL West teams, the division was under .500.

 

The Diamondbacks pitching was actually comparable to the Red Sox, but good enough in that weak division. They only won 6 more games, while playing in a division of weaker teams. This isn’t that much of a stretch.

 

We were all disappointed with the Sox staff this year, but it wasn’t the worst pitching staff in MLB. And it was helped out by what turned out to be a very good bullpen…

 

You can cite quantitative data all day on pitching and hitting in the NL West ballparks compared to in the AL East ballparks.

 

But there are qualitative differences, which may be hard to accept unless you've played competitively in each or talked to guys who have.

 

I am sure many posters here have researched a guy like Trevor Story, and his stats playing in Colorado. There might even be forum members who would agree that a young Rockies' pitcher with mediocre numbers may be more successful if he joined the Red Sox -- even facing the mighty AL BEasts. The Rox pitching staff would be worth a look by a new GM seeking to recruit some hidden potential (if you can pitch there, and stay in the Show, you made it).

 

A lot of media attributed Baltimore's surge this year specifically to moving back the leftfield fence in Camden Yards. Pitchers were more aggressive -- on the mound, and agreeing to join the O's.

[Dipre]

You can cite quantitative data all day on pitching and hitting in the NL West ballparks compared to in the AL East ballparks.

 

But there are qualitative differences, which may be hard to accept unless you've played competitively in each or talked to guys who have.

 

I am sure many posters here have researched a guy like Trevor Story, and his stats playing in Colorado. There might even be forum members who would agree that a young Rockies' pitcher with mediocre numbers may be more successful if he joined the Red Sox -- even facing the mighty AL BEasts. The Rox pitching staff would be worth a look by a new GM seeking to recruit some hidden potential (if you can pitch there, and stay in the Show, you made it).

 

A lot of media attributed Baltimore's surge this year specifically to moving back the leftfield fence in Camden Yards. Pitchers were more aggressive -- on the mound, and agreeing to join the O's.

 

The difference is that data is there, compiled, ready to be interpreted, and it's not a "well, maybe they moved the fence, maybe this, maybe that", and that's the point. When arguing these types of topics regarding baseball, it should 80% quantitative and 20% qualitative, not the other way around.

[Maxbialystock]

No. It’s silly.

 

The AL East was a combined 449-361. Now against other AL East teams, the divisions aggregate record was .500, because it always is in every sport ever played. Against non-AL East teams, the AL East teams were 88 games over .500.

 

The combined record of the NL West was 404-406, which means again non-NL West teams, the division was under .500.

 

The Diamondbacks pitching was actually comparable to the Red Sox, but good enough in that weak division. They only won 6 more games, while playing in a division of weaker teams. This isn’t that much of a stretch.

 

We were all disappointed with the Sox staff this year, but it wasn’t the worst pitching staff in MLB. And it was helped out by what turned out to be a very good bullpen…

 

Looking back, I'm inclined to be somewhat forgiving of the Sox staff--for two reasons. One of them is definitely not the the acquisition genius of Chaim Bloom.

 

The two are: 1) the injuries to Sale, Houck, and Whitlock--all were out for 2+ months--and others on the staff to the degree that for 2-3 weeks the Sox were starting relievers in 2 of the 5 rotation spots; 2) the 48 games with just 3 days off from Aug

4 to Sep 20. Given those two big issues, I think the pitching staff did remarkably well. Bello came through with the most innings and most quality starts. Sale had some good moments/games and pitched more innings, 102, in 2023 than he did in the 3 previous seasons. Pivetta seemed to me to get better after being shunted through the bullpen--I think his curve got sharper. Crawford did yeoman service, as did Houck.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The difference is that data is there, compiled, ready to be interpreted, and it's not a "well, maybe they moved the fence, maybe this, maybe that", and that's the point. When arguing these types of topics regarding baseball, it should 80% quantitative and 20% qualitative, not the other way around.

 

Fair point, and definitely a ratio that has trended more lately. Though looking at close-ups of Bochy and Baker in the ALCS, gotta wonder about their ratios -- not what they agree to, when they accepted the jobs... but what really drives decisions: 50-50? 49-51?

[Dipre]

Fair point, and definitely a ratio that has trended more lately. Though looking at close-ups of Bochy and Baker in the ALCS, gotta wonder about their ratios -- not what they agree to, when they accepted the jobs... but what really drives decisions: 50-50? 49-51?

 

Things are significantly more analytics-driven now, but guys have been using numbers (albeit less advanced) to make their in-game decisions as far back as when Jim Palmer was pitching .

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Things are significantly more analytics-driven now, but guys have been using numbers (albeit less advanced) to make their in-game decisions as far back as when Jim Palmer was pitching .

 

Earl Weaver didn't invent platooning, but he did have team employees go through box scores and scorebooks to break down all his batters' splits vs. RHP/LHP to help make line-up decisions. Presumably, he did the same with his pitchers vs. right/lefty hitters.

 

Of course, it could be said Earl learned a huge lesson getting upset in the '69 Series by Gil Hodges and the Miracle Mets, who platooned over half their batting order in every game.

[Bellhorn04]

Earl Weaver didn't invent platooning, but he did have team employees go through box scores and scorebooks to break down all his batters' splits vs. RHP/LHP to help make line-up decisions. Presumably, he did the same with his pitchers vs. right/lefty hitters.

 

Of course, it could be said Earl learned a huge lesson getting upset in the '69 Series by Gil Hodges and the Miracle Mets, who platooned over half their batting order in every game.

 

Wow, good digging there.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Wow, good digging there.

 

I actually didn't research this, but lived it. Hodges basically started three Gold Glovers at C-SS-CF every game -- Pitching and DEFENSE, Rot Sox -- and a .340 batter in LF.

[Bellhorn04]

Those Orioles teams of 1969-70-71 were powerful teams. But they only won 1 out of 3 WS's.

 

Similar to the A's of 1988-89-90. Like the O's they won in the middle year.

 

So many odd parallels in baseball history.

[dgalehouse]

In the ALCS , the home team has yet to win a game.