2023 MLB postseason thread

[Maxbialystock]

An 84 win team at that.

 

Yes, but that's the point. I claimed that the four teams--Orioles, Dodgers, Astros, and Braves--who "rested" 6 days between the last season games and the beginning of the division series, were screwed by the schedule. That's now way back in the rearview mirror.

 

On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have played excellent postseason baseball, especially their pitching. I think they are legit, not lucky.

 

And that leads me back to the Sox, who won won 78 games and were just 6 games back of the D-backs.

 

That doesn't mean I think the Sox should have been in the postseason. Not at all.

 

But I do think all the claims by moonslav and many others that Bloom should have been making more moves last December and this past July have new legitimacy.

 

I will add that I personally griped about the Sox weak righthanded hitting, but now agree with everyone who insisted the pitching was far more important.

 

Thus too the new CBO for the Sox is reportedly an expert on fixing the pitching.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

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

 

I'm not sure if you've consulted any Blue Jays fans on that. I haven't, but Varsho and Gurriel Jr. are comparable outfielders: both have some pop and were Gold Glove finalists. An even swap could be viewed as an acceptable change-of-scenery deal for both clubs (Lordes made this year's NL All-Star team).

 

But Moreno as a "throw-in"? According to dWAR, he was the best defensive player in baseball in his first full season as a big league catcher. He can also rake, batting third in the order for the NL pennant winners.

[moonslav59]

Yes, but that's the point. I claimed that the four teams--Orioles, Dodgers, Astros, and Braves--who "rested" 6 days between the last season games and the beginning of the division series, were screwed by the schedule. That's now way back in the rearview mirror.

 

On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have played excellent postseason baseball, especially their pitching. I think they are legit, not lucky.

 

And that leads me back to the Sox, who won won 78 games and were just 6 games back of the D-backs.

 

That doesn't mean I think the Sox should have been in the postseason. Not at all.

 

But I do think all the claims by moonslav and many others that Bloom should have been making more moves last December and this past July have new legitimacy.

 

I will add that I personally griped about the Sox weak righthanded hitting, but now agree with everyone who insisted the pitching was far more important.

 

Thus too the new CBO for the Sox is reportedly an expert on fixing the pitching.

 

I was for "buying" (and more than just Urias) at the deadline, but in hindsight, I'm not sure it would have worked.

 

In hindsight, we could have...

 

Traded Paxton in a three-way for someone like Civale, but even he did not do well for the Rays.

 

I'm not sure trading for Montgomery would have been enough.

 

I was not for selling off the whole farm or even major pieces for a shot at 2023.

 

If we traded for a longer term player, or someone we ended up extending, then I'd have been fine with trading a top prospect or two..

[moonslav59]

Sports talk radio, here around Houston, is full of people blaming Dusty Baker for the Astros loss. Some are blaming the loss of Click and those let go after the cheating scandal.

 

Of course, it doesn't seem to rise to the level of Sox fan vitriol, but it is still pretty bad, considering this is a team that has made the ALCS for many years in a row.

[Bellhorn04]

Sports talk radio, here around Houston, is full of people blaming Dusty Baker for the Astros loss. Some are blaming the loss of Click and those let go after the cheating scandal.

 

Of course, it doesn't seem to rise to the level of Sox fan vitriol, but it is still pretty bad, considering this is a team that has made the ALCS for many years in a row.

 

That's sports talk radio for ya.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sports talk radio, here around Houston, is full of people blaming Dusty Baker for the Astros loss. Some are blaming the loss of Click and those let go after the cheating scandal.

 

Of course, it doesn't seem to rise to the level of Sox fan vitriol, but it is still pretty bad, considering this is a team that has made the ALCS for many years in a row.

 

It's all Dusty's fault for making Framber and Javier throw meatballs the last two games! He shoulda never changed the recipe from last year's World Series, when they were throwing peas!

[moonslav59]

That's sports talk radio for ya.

 

Apparently, the more you get out and hear more and more talk like this, the better understanding you have of the game and the needs of the team. These guys really know what they are talking about!.

[bkzwhitestrican]

It's cool to see random teams like Texas and Arizona make the World Series, but it also makes that grueling 162 game season kinda pointless if a team can slip in with 84 wins and win it all. Heck the Yanks had 82 wins this season, who knows what they could've done in the postseason! (Probably score 1 total run in 2 games)

[Dipre]

It's cool to see random teams like Texas and Arizona make the World Series, but it also makes that grueling 162 game season kinda pointless if a team can slip in with 84 wins and win it all. Heck the Yanks had 82 wins this season, who knows what they could've done in the postseason! (Probably score 1 total run in 2 games)

 

Not at all. The uncertainty is what makes baseball the best of sports. Also, the 2006 Cardinals, 1987 Twins and 2000 Yankees all disagree with you.

[dgalehouse]

There are not many folks with a bigger sense of entitlement than baseball fans. When the team fails they will lash out angrily and denounce the players for letting them down. They take it very personally. It's like that in just about every city.

[Bellhorn04]

Not at all. The uncertainty is what makes baseball the best of sports. Also, the 2006 Cardinals, 1987 Twins and 2000 Yankees all disagree with you.

 

True, but with an 8 team field the DBacks wouldn't have made the playoffs.

 

If they keep expanding the field, a sub-.500 team will eventually win the World Series.

[moonslav59]

There are not many folks with a bigger sense of entitlement than baseball fans. When the team fails they will lash out angrily and denounce the players for letting them down. They take it very personally. It's like that in just about every city.

 

They usually lash out at the GM and owner- not the players.

 

Ask Red, he has his hand on the true pulse of Sox nation. His corner is bigger than any of ours.

[Bellhorn04]

They usually lash out at the GM and owner- not the players.

 

Unless the team "choked" and you can pin it on someone like Buckner. Phillies fans aren't too happy with Kimbrel right now.

[moonslav59]

Unless the team "choked" and you can pin it on someone like Buckner. Phillies fans aren't too happy with Kimbrel right now.

 

Around here, except on the game threads, it's always on the GM or manager.

[redsoxrules]

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

 

Awful trade. If it wasn't for his defense his value wouldn't be that great. He will probably end up like JBJ in a few years

[redsoxrules]

Top catching prospect are hard to come by. You don't trade them away for a player like Varsho

[moonslav59]

Top catching prospect are hard to come by. You don't trade them away for a player like Varsho

 

Agreed.

 

I will say that a lot of promising catching prospects never pan out, but I still fully agree.

[notin]

Top catching prospect are hard to come by. You don't trade them away for a player like Varsho

 

Varsho himself was a top catching prospect. He didn’t even wash out at catcher so much as he did excel as a base runner and outfielder.

 

Plus with Jansen and Kirk, the Jays actually had to move a catcher. And they did get a 26yo 5 WAR player. Don’t be swayed by the batting average. Might as well just sum up the Juan Soto trade with “I can’t believe the Padres gave up all those prospects for an outfielder batting .246!!”

[Bellhorn04]

Varsho himself was a top catching prospect. He didn’t even wash out at catcher so much as he did excel as a base runner and outfielder.

 

Plus with Jansen and Kirk, the Jays actually had to move a catcher. And they did get a 26yo 5 WAR player. Don’t be swayed by the batting average. Might as well just sum up the Juan Soto trade with “I can’t believe the Padres gave up all those prospects for an outfielder batting .246!!”

 

The Jays have been making mostly good moves the last few years. Not much to show for it though.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Jays have been making mostly good moves the last few years. Not much to show for it though.

 

Moreno is a stud. Top defender in baseball at age 23, got his bell rung behind the dish a few times this month, and still has 3 HR, 9 RBI, .853 OPS in 12 games (Most Crucial Sample Size of the season).

 

If Kyle Teel can approach that in two years, it will make Bloom look better for the pick (when he somehow fell to 14th), and Breslow look good for developing him.

[Bellhorn04]

Kind of weird that $72 million man Taijuan Walker didn't throw a pitch for the Phillies in the postseason in spite of reportedly being 100% healthy.

[mvp 78]

Kind of weird that $72 million man Taijuan Walker didn't throw a pitch for the Phillies in the postseason in spite of reportedly being 100% healthy.

 

Not a big strikeout guy and he had a bad 2nd half. I think they just didn't trust him after how he was pitching in September.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Not a big strikeout guy and he had a bad 2nd half. I think they just didn't trust him after how he was pitching in September.

 

Bet they wish they did now, instead of... well --

[mvp 78]

Bet they wish they did now, instead of... well --

 

Lose with him or lose without him? I'm not sure he would have been useful out of the pen.

[dgalehouse]

With all respect to the Rangers and Diamondbacks , this could draw one of the lowest TV ratings ever for a World Series.

[mvp 78]

With all respect to the Rangers and Diamondbacks , this could draw one of the lowest TV ratings ever for a World Series.

 

‘20, ‘21 and ‘22 are the 3 lowest watched WS of all time, so I’d expect this one to be no exception.

[moonslav59]

Yanks-Padres have begun talks on a Juan Soto trade.

[Dipre]

Yanks-Padres have begun talks on a Juan Soto trade.

 

Can you provide a link to this? I don't see it anywhere.

 

Nvm, just had it forwarded by a Yankees fan "friend".

[moonslav59]

Can you provide a link to this? I don't see it anywhere.

 

Nvm, just had it forwarded by a Yankees fan "friend".

 

It was on MLBTR. "preliminary talks."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/yankees-padres-have-had-preliminary-discussions-on-juan-soto.html

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It was on MLBTR. "preliminary talks."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/yankees-padres-have-had-preliminary-discussions-on-juan-soto.html

 

 

Soto would be a great fit in the short-porch Bronx -- better than with the Sox' lefty-imbalanced line-up in Fenway.

 

He would gave NY a top four that could transform into world beaters: Volpe-Judge-Soto-Stanton... Boston could counter with L-L-L-L-L-L-Story-Wong-Ugh