2026 MLB post-Red Sox postseason thread

[notin]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

CLE vs MIL because the Rays don't deserve a new stadium. 

As long as NBC loses money…

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

As long as NBC loses money…

WS is on FOX

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

I started out watching Sandy, and Gibby, and those two were hard to beat.Sandy only ended up 4-3, but his ERA was 0.95 in 7 starts.

Yes, Koufax would be right up there.

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yes, Koufax would be right up there.

When I started out is was rooting for whoever went against the Yankees in the WS, so it was Sandy in 1963, and Gibby in 1964. Wasn’t rooting for Gibby though in 67.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Jake Bauers struck out 13 times in 26 at bats in the NLCS. But he was the MVP for two at bats: the 12-pitch walk that wore out Yamamoto, and the 11-pitch HR that beat LA.

Is he suddenly better right now than ever before? Can anyone really call an entire season when Bauers had the most home runs for the best team in baseball a small sample size?

Can anyone in their wildest dreams imagine Duran, Story, Anthony, Rafaela, Abreu and Contreras fouling off two dozens pitches total between them...

I'm not saying Breslow should overpay for him this winter, but is it possible Bauers finally figured things out at 30 (did Mickey?)? Maybe he just ate a lot of carrots this week.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Disagree, Beckett's postseason resume will always be outstanding.

7-2, 3.07 ERA, .94 WHIP, instrumental in 2 rings.

How many pitchers have better than that?  Gibson, Schilling, who else.  I'm guessing Beckett is still in the top 5.

I disagree on #5, but that's not how I look at it. He was way better than 3.07 then way worse. The fact that it averaged out at 3.07 is a testament to how great he was for the first and longer part of this breakdown.

First 6 series (2 rings) 72.2 IP 1.73 ERA and 6-2

Last 3 series (0 WS shows) 21.0 IP 7.71 ERA and 1-1

He was- then he wasnt

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

WS is on FOX

Damnit.  They’ve been good…

[NHNative]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Jake Bauers struck out 13 times in 26 at bats in the NLCS. But he was the MVP for two at bats: the 12-pitch walk that wore out Yamamoto, and the 11-pitch HR that beat LA.

Is he suddenly better right now than ever before? Can anyone really call an entire season when Bauers had the most home runs for the best team in baseball a small sample size?

Can anyone in their wildest dreams imagine Duran, Story, Anthony, Rafaela, Abreu and Contreras fouling off two dozens pitches total between them...

I'm not saying Breslow should overpay for him this winter, but is it possible Bauers finally figured things out at 30 (did Mickey?)? Maybe he just ate a lot of carrots this week.

Humans are funny like that.

[drewski6]

19 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Wrong.

• He's already really good (not great) but only 24.277.  He could have another year or two of growth/experience.
• I don't think he has some of the issues that some other uber-athletes have (like ONeil Cruz).
• His K/W continues to improve, going from 4.11 to 3.16 to 2.70 to 2.43.
• His EV and FB% took substantial jumps last year.  I'm an agnostic on FB%, but I consider his 26.4% to be a prime number.
• On this last one, it's above my pay grade, but he seems like a happy camper.  I like guys that like to play, but the FO has to do the homework to see what he's like in the clubhouse.
• He's not really replacing anyone.  There might be guys in the clubhouse that everyone likes, and it's a negative to replace them.  But no matter how good Arias might become, he isn't one of us yet.  And no matter what one thinks of Story, no one will be upset replacing him with Elly.
• What would put me over the top, however, is if he came with an extension.  Again, it is homework time in the FO.  Maybe he has some negatives I am unaware of.  But he reminds me of Tatis.  Setting aside the PEDs issue, he seems like a sinewy type of athlete that could give us ten years before the decline.  If he passes the character test, give him $400M/10, plus the control years, pound down a few shots or puffs or whatever, hurl, and you just might wake up in the morning with a HOF-level 25 year old kid.

The only bullet I would argue is your first one.  He is great.

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I disagree on #5, but that's not how I look at it. He was way better than 3.07 then way worse. The fact that it averaged out at 3.07 is a testament to how great he was for the first and longer part of this breakdown.

First 6 series (2 rings) 72.2 IP 1.73 ERA and 6-2

Last 3 series (0 WS shows) 21.0 IP 7.71 ERA and 1-1

He was- then he wasnt

Is that like Beckett was in the postseason with the Sox. In 2007 he was, and in 2008 he wasn’t?

[drewski6]

19 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

1. Schwarber

2T Alonso & Contreras

It was closer than I expected and the money saved helped us pay part of Gray or Suarez's contract.

Nobody has the answer on who might have helped us vs the Yanks in a two game sample. Nobody can predict how anyone will do in October. You try to build a team that promises to do well, and then let them play the game. Brez left us short and then made a couple bold attempts at making up for it. The Mead injury hurt a lot- maybe even more than Anthony's failed attempt at a return

That's not to say Brez didn't make any mistakes. I have been in total agreement with those who felt we left a major hole on offense by the start of the season. I remember even saying at the time, trying to fix it at the deadline will likely be more costly and is usually for just rentals. Brez did well not to go for rentals, but the overpay became even more extreme.

I think our projected line up in 2027 looks better than opening day 2026, opening day 2024 and pretty close to the opening day 2025 line-up with Bregman and Devers.

Remember, you asked me to look at the 2025 numbers to make the call on Schwarber, Alonso & Contreras, so I ask you to look at Bregman's past 2-3 year totals before 2025 to judge that line-up.

What's your take? Is our 2027 projected line-up better?

1. Anthony LF/DH

2. Mead 2B

3. Abreu RF

4. Contreras 1B

5. AR C

6. Story SS

7. Yoshida/Duran LF/ Gasper DH/ Romy-Jones DH

8. Durbin 3B

9. Rafaela RF

I'm fine with saying this isn't good enough, but IMO, it is better, more balanced and the bench much better than the team handed to Brez.

The pitching & defense is light years better.

Its still on the cusp between playoffs and first round exit and this is year 5.  Its just not enough improvement.

[drewski6]

18 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I don't think Schwarber was #1.  Since the board has (finally) moved on from HRs to SLG, it is worth noting that Contreras had a higher SLG, in addition to his positional importance.

Positional importance? They are probably interchangeable, dont forget that terrible gaff that Contreras had defensively not getting in front of the bag.  

That being said, Id like both.  

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Positional importance? They are probably interchangeable, dont forget that terrible gaff that Contreras had defensively not getting in front of the bag.  

That being said, Id like both.  

Con Man was playing catcher receiving that throw. It’s not like Alonso is a bad 1B either.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Its still on the cusp between playoffs and first round exit and this is year 5.  Its just not enough improvement.

No, it's not enough.

It wasn't easy improving as much as it did within a limited budget.

We need a major step forward.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Con Man was playing catcher receiving that throw. It’s not like Alonso is a bad 1B either.

In past 3 years combined, Alonso is second to worst at 1B DRS and last in OAA at 1B.

Contreras started playing 1B recently and quickly became better than Alonso.

2025-2026

DRS: Contreras +7, Alonso -9

OAA: Contreras -17.2, Alonso -25.7

bWAR: Contreras -1.5, Alonso -2.7

fangraphs: Contreras -10.3, Alonso -25.7

 

 

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

In past 3 years combined, Alonso is second to worst at 1B DRS and last in OAA at 1B.

Contreras started playing 1B recently and quickly became better than Alonso.

2025-2026

DRS: Contreras +7, Alonso -9

OAA: Contreras -17.2, Alonso -25.7

bWAR: Contreras -1.5, Alonso -2.7

fangraphs: Contreras -10.3, Alonso -25.7

 

 

I don’t worry about the D like you do. I would rather have Raffy’s bat in the lineup despite his short comings on D, and I would rather have Alonso’s bat in the lineup over the Con Man despite whatever other stats you come up with to say otherwise. Alonso can catch the ball.

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t worry about the D like you do. I would rather have Raffy’s bat in the lineup despite his short comings on D, and I would rather have Alonso’s bat in the lineup over the Con Man despite whatever other stats you come up with to say otherwise. Alonso can catch the ball.

You know what I "worry about?"

You mentioned Alonso's D, and I showed you he was bad.

I wanted Alonso, so my "worry" is just in your head.

Yes, I value D more than you. I also value truth and reading comprehension highly

[JoeBrady]

On 10/16/2026 at 9:46 AM, mvp 78 said:

CLE vs MIL because the Rays don't deserve a new stadium. 

That's what I want as well, if only to see heads explode when a team without HRs wins.  And we'll get to about ten days of non-stop chatter about OBP, defense, and pitching.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

That's what I want as well, if only to see heads explode when a team without HRs wins.  And we'll get to about ten days of non-stop chatter about OBP, defense, and pitching.

I'm not a Rays fan, but they have done such a good job for many years with low budgets, that a ring would seem like a just reward.

[JoeBrady]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not a Rays fan, but they have done such a good job for many years with low budgets, that a ring would seem like a just reward.

One could say the same thing about Cleveland and Milwaukee.  Weak division, but CL has finished 1st in 7 of the past 11 years.

[moonslav59]

34 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

One could say the same thing about Cleveland and Milwaukee.  Weak division, but CL has finished 1st in 7 of the past 11 years.

Yes, true.

On CLE, weak div as mentioned. but even in that weak div, only 2 seasons in the last 7 with 88 or more wins. (85 this year seems undeserving.)

MIL is a mid tier spender- not low tier, but still amazing results. They are deserving because they have the best record, and more deserving for doing it without being a top 10 or 15 spender most years.

Since 2021, total wins:

608 LAD

566 MIL (Never won a ring)

554 NYY (Lost their killer playoff mystic)

552 ATL

547 HOU (on the downswingO

540 TBR (mostly as a bottom 5-10 spending team)

538 PHI

524 SDP

519 SEA & TOR

11. CLE at 513

12. BOS 505-467

13. NYM 499

14. SFG 493

15. CHC & STL 492

[Behindenemylines]

Milwaukee's ability to hit Dodger's starting pitchers enough to keep them in the game and get into the bullpen was the difference in that series. 

[notin]

On 10/16/2026 at 11:32 AM, Old Red said:

Con Man was playing catcher receiving that throw. It’s not like Alonso is a bad 1B either.

The Polar Bear was 16th out of 17 qualified 1b in Defensive Runs Saved. 17th in Outs Above Average.  17th in Fielding Run Value.

Id say it’s exactly like he’s a bad 1b…