2023 MLB postseason thread

[notin]

13th, load 'em up.

 

If the game goes 16 innings, each team will place their lineup along the baseline in front of their dugout, and the game will be decided by a “last man standing” spelling bee…

[moonslav59]

If the game goes 16 innings, each team will place their lineup along the baseline in front of their dugout, and the game will be decided by a “last man standing” spelling bee…

 

In the 16th, have a home run derby.

[Maxbialystock]

Go Diamondbacks!!! Up 4-1 in the 7th--over the Phillies, who I am definitely rooting against. Also rooting against the Rangers, but have to say that has been an excellent series. I'm rooting for the Astros for just one reason: they are the only team of the four teams with first round byes who are still in it. I think the Orioles, Dodgers, and Braves all got screwed by the new format.

 

That said, I don't think there's a bad team in the final four (Phillies, D-backs, Rangers, and Astros). I know the Diamondbacks only won 84 games in the regular season, but they look pretty decent to me.

[moonslav59]

Go Diamondbacks!!! Up 4-1 in the 7th--over the Phillies, who I am definitely rooting against. Also rooting against the Rangers, but have to say that has been an excellent series. I'm rooting for the Astros for just one reason: they are the only team of the four teams with first round byes who are still in it. I think the Orioles, Dodgers, and Braves all got screwed by the new format.

 

That said, I don't think there's a bad team in the final four (Phillies, D-backs, Rangers, and Astros). I know the Diamondbacks only won 84 games in the regular season, but they look pretty decent to me.

 

Why root for a bunch of cheating and smug bastards like the Astros?

[Maxbialystock]

If the game goes 16 innings, each team will place their lineup along the baseline in front of their dugout, and the game will be decided by a “last man standing” spelling bee…

 

Sorry, but I like the ghost runner--or, at least, what the ghost runner accomplishes.

 

The most popular sport in the world by far is soccer/football, and they had to go to a shootout to avoid ties in the World Cup, the most important sports championship in the world. Shootouts are no worse than ghost runners. And, yes, I do know you can have ties in early rounds/games in the World Cup.

[Maxbialystock]

Why root for a bunch of cheating and smug bastards like the Astros?

 

You're repeating yourself, but that's perfectly fine with me. You're consistent.

 

Not sure what you mean by smug because these days professional athletes of all kinds seem to relish showing off when they do something right. MLB used to be pretty restrained, but no longer. They go ape for every single--whether or not it drives anyone home.

 

About the cheating. You're right, of course. But I have to say stealing signals has been going on for a very long time--and now seems to be arrested by technology. However, you better believe teams film opposing pitchers hoping to find a telltale that says, "I'm about to throw heat"--or whatever.

Edited October 23, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

You're repeating yourself, but that's perfectly fine with me. You're consistent.

 

Not sure what you mean by smug because these days professional athletes of all kinds seem to relish showing off when they do something right. MLB used to be pretty restrained, but no longer. They go ape for every single--whether or not it drives anyone home.

 

They've won so much, they are smug and annoying.

 

I live down here, so I have deal with all the blather. No doubt, winning as much as they have gives the players reason to be confident. I just want tehse fans shut up, and the sooner the better.

[dgalehouse]

It is kind of nice to watch the playoffs and not care very much who wins. Just relax and enjoy the games.

[moonslav59]

It is kind of nice to watch the playoffs and not care very much who wins. Just relax and enjoy the games.

 

Agreed. Plus, the "right teams" are winning!

 

LOL!

[Jasonbay44]

It is kind of nice to watch the playoffs and not care very much who wins. Just relax and enjoy the games.

 

This time of year is my favorite for sports, especially weekends.. MLB playoffs, NFL, college football, boxing, UFC and now NBA and NHL are back.

[bkzwhitestrican]

f*** the Asteroids

[Bellhorn04]

f*** the Asteroids

 

Something Red Sox and Yankee fans can agree on.

[mvp 78]

f*** the Asteroids

 

They haven't been a likeable team since the Scott/Ryan/Hatcher/Davis/Bass era.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They haven't been a likeable team since the Scott/Ryan/Hatcher/Davis/Bass era.

 

Gammons cried when Lou Gorman gave them Bagwell.

 

I seethed.

[notin]

They haven't been a likeable team since the Scott/Ryan/Hatcher/Davis/Bass era.

 

I go back to the Terry Puhl/Cesar Cedeno/Joaquin Andujar/Floyd Bannister/Jeff Leonard years for Astr likability

[Dipre]

I go back to the Terry Puhl/Cesar Cedeno/Joaquin Andujar/Floyd Bannister/Jeff Leonard years for Astr likability

 

Holy crap, what a throwback! Two DWL legends!

[notin]

Sorry, but I like the ghost runner--or, at least, what the ghost runner accomplishes.

 

The most popular sport in the world by far is soccer/football, and they had to go to a shootout to avoid ties in the World Cup, the most important sports championship in the world. Shootouts are no worse than ghost runners. And, yes, I do know you can have ties in early rounds/games in the World Cup.

 

Shootout ruined the NHL, where they turned it into a “everybody gets a trophy just for playing” thing…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I go back to the Terry Puhl/Cesar Cedeno/Joaquin Andujar/Floyd Bannister/Jeff Leonard years for Astr likability

 

Favorite bat of my youth: perfectly-balanced, 32-inch Louisville Slugger Cesar Cedeno signature model with the dark, wood-grain oval rings down the barrel.

 

It was a sad day when that cracked.

[notin]

Holy crap, what a throwback! Two DWL legends!

 

And one named his MLB player son after the other.

 

RIP Andujar Cedeno 1969-2000

[Jasonbay44]

I can’t believe the diamondbacks just made the World Series

[Old Red]

I can’t believe the diamondbacks just made the World Series

 

An 84 win team at that.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

An 84 win team at that.

 

Their pitchers did better once they left the hot desert and got to deal in the Philly cold!

 

But now they have to go back to the southwest, and face a pennant winner led by an ex-player GM...

[moonslav59]

I can’t believe the diamondbacks just made the World Series

 

So much for my anti-crapshoot crusade.

[Bellhorn04]

So much for my anti-crapshoot crusade.

 

Letting 12 teams in has really magnified the crapshoot factor.

[moonslav59]

Letting 12 teams in has really magnified the crapshoot factor.

 

Wait until it's 16!

[moonslav59]

Letting 12 teams in has really magnified the crapshoot factor.

 

AZ had a -15 run differential and an xW-L record of 80-82, according to MLB.com. (The Sox were at 81-81 as a reference point.)

 

They were helped by having two top pitchers:

34 GS Gallen 3.47 ERA (125 ERA+)

30 GS Kelly 3.29 ERA (132)

But...

WOW! The rest of their SP'ing sucked

27 GS Nelson 5.31 (82 ERA+)

18 GS Pfaat 5.72 (76)

18 GS Davies 7.00 (62)

17 GS Henry 4.15 (105)

 

As a whole, the rotation ended up at 4.67 with a 1.34 WHIP and a .766 OPSA.

The Sox rotation finished at 4.68, 1.29 and .766- almost identical, but with worse D behind them.

 

Go figure!

 

[moonslav59]

An 84 win team at that.

 

SEA missed the dance with 88 wins. They had one more win than MIN, who played a much easier schedule, too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

AZ had a -15 run differential and an xW-L record of 80-82, according to MLB.com. (The Sox were at 81-81 as a reference point.)

 

They were helped by having two top pitchers:

34 GS Gallen 3.47 ERA (125 ERA+)

30 GS Kelly 3.29 ERA (132)

But...

WOW! The rest of their SP'ing sucked

27 GS Nelson 5.31 (82 ERA+)

18 GS Pfaat 5.72 (76)

18 GS Davies 7.00 (62)

17 GS Henry 4.15 (105)

 

As a whole, the rotation ended up at 4.67 with a 1.34 WHIP and a .766 OPSA.

The Sox rotation finished at 4.68, 1.29 and .766- almost identical, but with worse D behind them.

 

Go figure!

 

 

A few of the figures are their star players: Corbin Carroll, Gabe Moreno and Ketel Marte. The latter is like their Raffy -- not in sheer power numbers, but their longtime regular with a longterm contract. Marte, the NLCS MVP, had 4.9 WAR this year, second to his career high 6.9 in 2019 (the year Devers had a career-high 5.4 WAR).

 

Carroll, 5.4 WAR and runaway Rookie of the Year, and Moreno, the catcher with the clutch bat and who led MLB with 3.1 dWAR, are better young players than anyone on the Red Sox roster.

 

(still can't believe the Jays traded a catcher who was the #1 prospect in baseball and an All-Star outfielder for an outfielder with a career BA of .229)

[moonslav59]

A few of the figures are their star players: Corbin Carroll, Gabe Moreno and Ketel Marte. The latter is like their Raffy -- not in sheer power numbers, but their longtime regular with a longterm contract. Marte, the NLCS MVP, had 4.9 WAR this year, second to his career high 6.9 in 2019 (the year Devers had a career-high 5.4 WAR).

 

Carroll, 5.4 WAR and runaway Rookie of the Year, and Moreno, the catcher with the clutch bat and who led MLB with 3.1 dWAR, are better young players than anyone on the Red Sox roster.

 

(still can't believe the Jays traded a catcher who was the #1 prospect in baseball and an All-Star outfielder for an outfielder with a career BA of .229)

 

fWARs

6.0 Carroll

4.2 Marte

3.8 Walker

2.7 Perdomo

2.1 Gurriel

1.7 Moreno (in just 380 PAs)

(The next was 0.6)

 

Pitching

5.2 Gallen

3.2 Kelly

1.3 Ginkel

0.8 Davies

3 @ 0.7

 

[notin]

A few of the figures are their star players: Corbin Carroll, Gabe Moreno and Ketel Marte. The latter is like their Raffy -- not in sheer power numbers, but their longtime regular with a longterm contract. Marte, the NLCS MVP, had 4.9 WAR this year, second to his career high 6.9 in 2019 (the year Devers had a career-high 5.4 WAR).

 

Carroll, 5.4 WAR and runaway Rookie of the Year, and Moreno, the catcher with the clutch bat and who led MLB with 3.1 dWAR, are better young players than anyone on the Red Sox roster.

 

(still can't believe the Jays traded a catcher who was the #1 prospect in baseball and an All-Star outfielder for an outfielder with a career BA of .229)

 

That .229 hitting outfielder was coming off a 4.9bWAR/4.8fWAR season. It was a good trade for both teams…