2017 MLB Thread - PLAY BALL!

[Badger52]

And..... we're off. Thought to start a regular season thread where folks can post their favorite moments as well as things that run the gamut from :mad: to :D.

Cubs came out on the short end of a close one tonight in STL (Cards starter Martinez looks reeeeally good). Was weird to see an intentional walk taken care of in a few seconds without the obligatory 4 pitches. Don't believe I care for that but they were interested in moving the game's pace, along with mgr's having only 30 seconds to decide if they want a review, and reviews must take a max of 2 min.

Congratulations to STL fans who stuck around for a pretty interesting game.
Here we go.

[bblhead672]

It would be a great start for the Cards to pull off a home opener sweep of the Cubs.

The Cards were horrible at home last year, and must return to Busch Stadium dominance of visitors in order to be in contention come September.

Today is opening day for my new hometown Texas Rangers, my first full season in DFW area.

[Box]

Madison Bumgarner certainly stole the show on opening day. Struck out 11 batters - which is a pretty damn good day for ANY pitcher at any time of the year.
Not to mention hitting two home runs.

No major league pitcher has ever hit two home runs on opening day. The last Giant ballplayer to do it was the roid raging Barry Bonds.
...Bumgarner did AND struck out 11 batters.

[Badger52]

Madison Bumgarner certainly stole the show on opening day. Struck out 11 batters - which is a pretty damn good day for ANY pitcher at any time of the year.
Not to mention hitting two home runs.

No major league pitcher has ever hit two home runs on opening day. The last Giant ballplayer to do it was the roid raging Barry Bonds.
...Bumgarner did AND struck out 11 batters.That guy is monster. To do that & still lose the game to the D'backs sucks in a major fashion.

[rsdengler]

Hee, Hee...Trumbo for the homer in the 11th for the O's...happy, happy....:p

[Ret10Echo]

Hee, Hee...Trumbo for the homer in the 11th for the O's...happy, happy....:p

Decent start from O's pitching. Gausman got a little jammed up in the 5th but the bullpen extracts them from the fire..... ZB unleashes the filthy 95mph sinker.... Manny the-human-highlight-reel Machado throws a strike from 3rd to first, across his body while on his knees. Great day at Orioles Park at Camden Yard....

161 to go....

[rsdengler]

Decent start from O's pitching. Gausman got a little jammed up in the 5th but the bullpen extracts them from the fire..... ZB unleashes the filthy 95mph sinker.... Manny the-human-highlight-reel Machado throws a strike from 3rd to first, across his body while on his knees. Great day at Orioles Park at Camden Yard....

161 to go....

I know, I turned it on when I got home from work. I was a bit frustrated...kept jumping and yelling "Strike them out"..."Hit a damn ball"...:) ZB has a great pitch, our go-to closer... Toronto is always the O's Nemesis, but they are good....nice to get a win on opening day :munchin

[UpNorth]

Post removed for review.

[Badger52]

The banner is up, the trophy is home... and it's a typical April night at Wrigley (cold & rainy).
Play Ball!
:lifter

[Ret10Echo]

The banner is up, the trophy is home... and it's a typical April night at Wrigley (cold & rainy).
Play Ball!
:lifter

Congratulations to the Cubbies.

Now let's see what they bring this year :D

[Badger52]

Congratulations to the Cubbies.

Now let's see what they bring this year :DMade the mistake of going there for a game one April; preparedness by yrs trly was an epic no-go. Backside of a cold front, wind shifted about 120° and spent $12 on coffee just to have something warm to hold onto - and that was the daytime. Afterward I realized this is why God gave us Gore-Tex & Polar Fleece. :rolleyes:

Was nice to see they got 3 retired numbers there to help hoist the banners; I'm sure that is on their list of cool moments. Even better than 40,000+ watching their retired catcher David Ross do his Dancing With the Stars number on the Jumbo-tron during the rain delay.

Think Cincinnati and Colorado have a couple teams that are tough so far.

[Badger52]

Pretty cool having the Cubs visit the Red Sox; they having (imnsho) the last 2 great ball parks. Also, 2 of the Cubs who were formally in the Red Sox organization, have more than playing memories. Both beat their cancer there and, when thinking that life & any future was looking bleak (let alone MLB paychecks), were robustly supported by the Red Sox who picked up the whole tab. Considering one was only recently drafted & still in Single-A ball at the time thought that's pretty cool. Wrigley & Fenway would be some special kind of World Series. Anyway, hope we beat 'em but the 'Sox are a class organization. Hat tip.
:cool:

Rubber game tomorrow night, ESPN 8E/7C.

[Ret10Echo]

Yeah... It's 162 game season but what's your Division looking like thus far?

Historically, what ends up mattering more is staying close, staying healthy and getting hot after the All-Star break.

A/L East is a bit off kilter from preseason prognostications. The Yang-kees are the Bronx Bombers so far with a really young lineup.

Boston is underwhelming thus far in the post "Big-Papi" era. I figured their pitching to be more dominant but that hasn't arrived. I wasn't expecting them to be playing sub-.500 ball. It's early.

The O's continue to grind in the face of forecasted basement-dwelling. The ham-and-egger pitching rotation is Jekyll and Hyde with some gi-normous failures and some no-name call-ups. Defense continues to be what Showalter demands. The Boston rivalry is in full swing (along with national hype).

I think all of Toronto is on the D.L. with the exception of Joey Batts...

and the Rays be the Rays.

What's up in your world?

[Badger52]

Yeah... It's 162 game season but what's your Division looking like thus far?The NL Central continues so far to be the usual tooth & nail hairball with the Cubs not getting out of one of their pitching acquisitions what they'd hoped for. Having seen several of the games with Milwaukee the Brewers are actually looking good, at least to be a factor. The others are up & down like a boat with the wrong hull on a choppy sea but the current records are so close that 1 weekend could flip everything.

Outside the Central it's kinda like "holy krap, look at the Rockies." They're playing some serious ball, as are (typically last couple of years) the Nationals. All those look to be factors, but need to stay solid for the division first. 25 games in is not too early to remember that old adage about the 25m target.

[rsdengler]

OK, I still love my "O's", even though our pitching is our biggest problem. Bundy was good last night, and we will soon get back Tillman and Z. Britton, which I hope helps in the pitching area. W. Miley and Jimenez ( last year of his enormous contract) suck...But we do have some good new players, Gentry and Mancini who have been pretty good. Manny is stepping up, and Trumbo has been hitting in runs. Davis is slacking, and my boyfriend (LOL :) ) Joey Rickard is always injured, who knows next time it might be a hang nail. :o

Still rooting for them...Go O's...:lifter

[Badger52]

The NL Central continues so far to be the usual tooth & nail hairball with the Cubs not getting out of one of their pitching acquisitions what they'd hoped for.

Here let me fix that...

The NL Central continues so far to be the usual tooth & nail hairball with the Brewers playing pretty good ball and the Cubs not getting decent/consistent pitching out of ANY of their rotation, while leaving things up to the bullpen has become a coin-flip (with the exception of the closer who's the only Cub going to tomorrow's All Star Game).
Holy cow indeed.
:rolleyes:
So how's everyone else's favorite team doing at The Break?

[bblhead672]

So how's everyone else's favorite team doing at The Break?

Both the Cardinals and the Rangers are mired in mediocrity.

[Badger52]

Both the Cardinals and the Rangers are mired in mediocrity.Yeah, what's up with STL? I thought with Dexter Fowler (who the Cubs miss terribly, as player & friend) they'd get something solid going.

[rsdengler]

Ha...my team...The Orioles, well they just plain "suck"....I am disappointed, but who knows maybe, just maybe they will get it together. At least they better before I go on August 5th....:munchin

[bblhead672]

Yeah, what's up with STL? I thought with Dexter Fowler (who the Cubs miss terribly, as player & friend) they'd get something solid going.

Honestly, I don't know if the problem is Mike Matheny being unable to manage a team after the one Tony LaRussa put together for him, GM Mozeliak got overwhelmed by too much work or that Jeff Luhow moving to the Astros impacted the team's ability to field quality players.
The Astros have certainly improved a great deal since Luhow's move to Houston.

Hopefully the Cards promotion of Mozeliak to Pres. of Baseball Operations and Mike Girsh to GM will yield better results on the field. But I'm not holding my breath. I like Matheny, great guy and was a good player for the Cardinals, however the team's performance under his leadership continues to deteriorate.

At this point, the Cards are fortunate that the NL Central is such a wasteland.

[Airbornelawyer]

The weirdest thing to me so far is that every team in the American League is still technically at least in wild card contention. The worst teams, the Chicago White Sox and the the Oakland A's, are 7.5 games out. Obviously, their chances are little better than slim, but one consequence is that teams that might be sellers at this point don't really know what to do. Do teams like Baltimore and Detroit give up and unload at the deadline, or do they bet that their underperformers like Miguel Cabrera and Manny Machado will pick it up in the second half and all they really need is to get some improved pitching to get back in it?

[Ret10Echo]

The weirdest thing to me so far is that every team in the American League is still technically at least in wild card contention. The worst teams, the Chicago White Sox and the the Oakland A's, are 7.5 games out. Obviously, their chances are little better than slim, but one consequence is that teams that might be sellers at this point don't really know what to do. Do teams like Baltimore and Detroit give up and unload at the deadline, or do they bet that their underperformers like Miguel Cabrera and Manny Machado will pick it up in the second half and all they really need is to get some improved pitching to get back in it?


In the AL East, even for those who might consider going "sell" who would they go after? Everyone is looking for pitching whether starters (Baltimore) or bullpen (New York). Boston actually starting to perform as predicted has moved them up, but a set against the Yankees out of the break could make a big difference early in the second half.
Those with deep pockets will have the advantage as always. But even then the pickings are slim at best. Why sell off if things are that tight? As much as fans might be clamoring for some change

[Airbornelawyer]

I think Boston is looking for a third baseman.

The Yankees could use a first baseman, but I agree their biggest need is pitching. Maybe they make a deal with Oakland for 1B Yonder Alonso and a pitcher or two.

The Nationals biggest hole is a reliable closer, but with all the injuries to position players (Trea Turner, Jayson Werth, Adam Eaton, etc.), they might look for additional bench options. Baltimore has a fair number of players they might give up, if they go the seller route, but I'm not sure that the Nats have what Baltimore needs.

I think a lot of people in baseball still expect Toronto to turn it around in the second half. I'm not sure how many of them are in the Blue Jays' front office, though.

Of course, almost as soon as I observe that few AL teams might be sellers at this point, the White Sox trade Quintana to the Cubs, so what do I know. Maybe now that they are selling, the White Sox will make a deal with the Nats for David Robertson.

[Badger52]

Of course, almost as soon as I observe that few AL teams might be sellers at this point, the White Sox trade Quintana to the Cubs, so what do I know.Thanks for that. Here I get a day off (to clean up downed limbs) and this comes along, right here on PS.COM = Not Fake News. Am definitely glad to see this. They said they were able to do this without touching their 25-man roster; which only means that some guys that were on the up/down elevator to AAA are going to be there longer rather than keeping a Chicago bag packed. (It is a BidenBig Freakin' Deal to get even 1 day of MLB service on your record when in AAA because it generates a permanent bump into your Minor League salary ceiling.)

[Badger52]

Well, Quintana or not, the Cubs' pitching staff (the bullpen tonight) seem to be unable too often to close the deal on close games. Big bats working tonight? No problem; but the little close ones are frustrating. (File under "The enemy gets a vote, or quit giving the other guy 4 outs."). Everyone seems to want to bring heat, as if the rest of MLB hasn't been studying the Cubs for awhile. Damn! As Crash Davis would say, "Be more democratic; throw some ground balls..."

The Cubs keep leaving these little openings for the fur-ball that is the NL Central. How are everyone's teams shaking out to this point? (Yeah, ok, if you're a Dodger fan you don't have to play.)
:rolleyes:

[Ret10Echo]

Pitching, pitching, pitching....

You'd think with pitch-counts, and the myriad of specialty roles you'd have a better crop out there to choose from and consistency.

Sox (the Red ones)... Thinking Sales was solid and he gets disassembled by the Tribe last night. Speedbump but the East seems to be settled in barring some anomaly. A bunch of AL East games with the Yankees on the road and Houston at home APPEARING to be the only challenges.

Orioles - Facepalm Winning 2 games in a row is now a streak for the Birds 3 games out in the wildcard but I don't see that being a realistic expectation given the serious inconsistencies in pitching and the all or nothing offense.

Sad to see Britton's save record come to a close at 60. Unfortunate that the unwritten rule on Cy Young awards didn't give it to him last season for the streak of 47 saves a 0.54 ERA and 0.836 WHIP.

[Last hard class]

Once again this year I am dreaming of a Dodgers/Tribe world Series. I also dreamed of winning the Powerball. About the same odds.


LHC

[Badger52]

Unfortunate that the unwritten rule on Cy Young awards didn't give it to him last season for the streak of 47 saves a 0.54 ERA and 0.836 WHIP.Agree, that's felony-stupid. A guy that, if you manage to not step on it & scratch out a lead, and can hand it to him, will still give your fingernails back to you.

:rolleyes:

[Badger52]

Kudos to the Cleveland Indians for capturing the AL record for consecutive wins!
No easy feat! (For comparison, all-time record EV-UH is NY Giants - in 1916.)

The Tribe is now tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs. They're playing the KC Royals tomorrow (who're playing .500 ball) so you can bet if you want, but my money is staying in my wallet. Like "Crash" Davis said, "you have to trust the streak."

[Ret10Echo]

Kudos to the Cleveland Indians for capturing the AL record for consecutive wins!
No easy feat! (For comparison, all-time record EV-UH is NY Giants - in 1916.)

The Tribe is now tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs. They're playing the KC Royals tomorrow (who're playing .500 ball) so you can bet if you want, but my money is staying in my wallet. Like "Crash" Davis said, "you have to trust the streak."

Congrats to the Tribe. I like Terry Francona so I hope they can keep the momentum into the post season.

[Badger52]

Congrats to the Tribe. I like Terry Francona so I hope they can keep the momentum into the post season.Well, it took 'em 10 tonight but they're still rolling along, 22 now.

Couple days ago I was racking/stacking some Cubbie stuff from over the years, including all 7 score sheets from the Series last year (couple of those are a mess, lol, since I hadn't done that regularly since I was a kid). And I recalled how appropriate, as I learned more about the Indians, that those 2 teams were playing each other. I have a boatload of respect for Terry Francona and that is a very tiny club to be in, managing the team that holds the league record for consecutive wins. Damn good for him & for his team.
:lifter

I do hate the current Wild Card format ("everybody's a winner" vs. continually climbing meritocracy). It would be criminal for stars to align that allowed someone like the Twins to win just the right 3 games against a team like Cleveland. The WC winner should play the lowest ranked division winner.[/rant]

Eh, better get packin' so I can go up north & have the Smallies make fun of me again.

[bblhead672]

Big series in Wrigley this weekend as the Cardinals try to make things interesting in the NL Central. Cards been playing much better lately, but has the atrocious pitching, fielding, hitting and managing of most of the year is lurking, ready to crush the hears of Cardinal fans again.

[Badger52]

Big series in Wrigley this weekend as the Cardinals try to make things interesting in the NL Central. Cards been playing much better lately, but has the atrocious pitching, fielding, hitting and managing of most of the year is lurking, ready to crush the hears of Cardinal fans again.Roger that. The NL Central remains a hair-ball of a dogfight; at this point I'm just glad when there's a game where the Cub starter doesn't give away the game in the first 3 innings. STL can bite if you go to sleep for a f'instant.

[Ret10Echo]

Roger that. The NL Central remains a hair-ball of a dogfight; at this point I'm just glad when there's a game where the Cub starter doesn't give away the game in the first 3 innings. STL can bite if you go to sleep for a f'instant.

The NL Central and AL East are the only places there is a race. Everywhere else the conversation is about wildcard spots. Some good teams are going to be sitting at home just because many of the divisional races were such blowouts.

[bblhead672]

Roger that. The NL Central remains a hair-ball of a dogfight; at this point I'm just glad when there's a game where the Cub starter doesn't give away the game in the first 3 innings. STL can bite if you go to sleep for a f'instant.

Badger52 - congrats to your Cubbies. I hope they go all the way again this year.

The Cardinal organization seems determined to pursue the path of mediocre players and poor manager.

[Badger52]

Badger52 - congrats to your Cubbies. I hope they go all the way again this year.

The Cardinal organization seems determined to pursue the path of mediocre players and poor manager.Thanks. Was in doubt for a bit; I NEVER put it past the Cardinals to pull some wabbit out of their hat. I disagree on the Cards' management however; I think Matheny is in the top-tier in that role and, pre-Maddon, thought he'd have looked great in a Cub uniform. They had some player injuries & performance issues but they aren't going anywhere. They have a damned good farm system as well. And Cards fans are great 'cause they understand the game so well. Like an AK; it ain't pretty but it's enthusiastic & that's gotta count fer somethin'. :)

[Airbornelawyer]

I do hate the current Wild Card format ("everybody's a winner" vs. continually climbing meritocracy). It would be criminal for stars to align that allowed someone like the Twins to win just the right 3 games against a team like Cleveland. The WC winner should play the lowest ranked division winner.[/rant]
I can't agree with that. In the best-case scenario, the two best teams in the league should face off for the pennant. But in your scenario, #1 would face #2 in the division series, with #3 facing the WC, so there is no way #1 and #2 could both advance.

As it stands right now, as a Cubs fan, you should be OK with facing the Nationals in the division series. The Nats are ending the season in a lackluster fashion (10-10 in their last 20 games) and look a little worn out.

I am not a huge fan of the second wild card, since baseball is about endurance and performances averaging out over a series, so a single-elimination game seems un-baseball-like. It also messes with your strategy - for example, should the Yankees put their number one starter in the WC game against the Twins, he won't be available for the most important match-up against the Indians, but if the Yankees don't, then they might not make it to play the Indians at all. Same for the D-Backs/Rockies (BTW, I have nothing against the team, but every time I hear "D-Backs", my brain wants to hear "D-Bags", so maybe not a good nickname).

At least the MLB playoff system is better than the NBA one, where more than half the teams make the playoffs (16 out of 30), and every round is best-of-seven, so the playoffs seem to go on forever. It makes the TBS/TNT "win or go home" tagline to the playoffs a little ridiculous.

[Badger52]

I can't agree with that. In the best-case scenario, the two best teams in the league should face off for the pennant. But in your scenario, #1 would face #2 in the division series, with #3 facing the WC, so there is no way #1 and #2 could both advance.I understand your point & we might just have to agree to disagree. Neither thing I mentioned could happen really without some (retro) restructuring. (A WS played into the month of November is what police would call a clue.) While it has worked out lately for the Cubs, I was speaking more in general terms of baseball long-term. RE current situation, as a Cubs fan I never underestimate another teams' ability to go to school & bring it when it counts. Seen that movie before.

Completely agree as to the NBA. All they do is get really obnoxious colors put on sneakers that people pay too much (or steal) for.

[Badger52]

Bopped over briefly to both the NL Wild Card last night & the ALDS tonight. (Got a kick out of that relief pitcher's triple even tho' not a DBacks fan at all.)

Terry Francona & Co in Cleveland seem to really have their "serious" on tonight against the Yankees - which suits me right down to my shoes because, well... Yankees.

[Ret10Echo]

Well, the Nats get the granny in the 8th to take that series to 5.... C'mon Cubbies, you have responsibility for keeping the Washington sports team drought in place!

And the Yan Kees are on the board early..... Really hoping the tribe can generate some offense tonight.

(seconds later he adds another comment... Gregorius... 2-2 with 2 HR and 3 RBI... Seriously? He was 2 for 16 in October)

[Badger52]

Yes, in this case the rain delay had a different result. An extra day (+ antibiotics & IV fluids) and they get back their ace - who lived up to everything needed. The Cubs' 2 starters were great but overshadowed in the lack of bats. Ultimate the 1 run was all it really took, facilitated by the rare short-stop error. Actually listened to the end of the game on AM radio enroute to confirmation of #2 grand-daughter. (Not being Catholic, and this being occasioned by the visit of the area Bishop + Entourage and running 2.5 long-winded hours, I mostly tuned out & studied interior ceiling architecture as a capper to the bullpen giving up that grand-slam - seemed fitting.)
:rolleyes:
No rest-day - down to a 1 game shootout tonight. Drain the swamp.

Am disappointed for the Indians & Francona; I must send a condolence note to a friend whose heart still lives there. Damn Yankees.

[Ret10Echo]

No rest-day - down to a 1 game shootout tonight. Drain the swamp.

Am disappointed for the Indians & Francona; I must send a condolence note to a friend whose heart still lives there. Damn Yankees.

Well, Farrell and Francona can play golf together now with their free time.

Damn Yankees

[Badger52]

Holy cats, a little bit of everything in this game & it's only 6 innings done. Cubs gotta hold 'em off 'cause the Nats aren't going quietly either.

[Ret10Echo]

Cubs win...

What is being described here on sports radio as a "total meltdown" by the Nats.

[Badger52]

Cubs win...

What is being described here on sports radio as a "total meltdown" by the Nats.IMO anyone on the air describing it as that didn't watch the game. That was a knife-fight in a phone booth, and a pretty close thing at most points in the game. Even with a day off, EITHER team's pitching staff (starters & bullpen) are going to be taxed to turn around & face the Dodgers now. Glad it's the Cubs though.

That might be one of the longest 9-inning games, absent any weather delay, that I've seen. Had to be 4h 45m or so.
On to Kalifornia.
:)

[Ret10Echo]

IMO anyone on the air describing it as that didn't watch the game. That was a knife-fight in a phone booth, and a pretty close thing at most points in the game. Even with a day off, EITHER team's pitching staff (starters & bullpen) are going to be taxed to turn around & face the Dodgers now. Glad it's the Cubs though.

That might be one of the longest 9-inning games, absent any weather delay, that I've seen. Had to be 4h 45m or so.
On to Kalifornia.
:)

DC Sports teams failing is a way of life. They don't take that well given the expectations for the Nats this year (Never mind what the Caps keep doing to themselves....or more correctly what the Penguins do to them)

[AMP]

My youngest son and I stayed up to watch the finish of that game. Waaaay past my bedtime for a week night. I think it was 11:45 when it ended. But well worth staying up for. Early rack time tonight. Go Cubs!!

[Badger52]

Not even an AL guy but had it on while doing some shelving. So glad the Astros beat the NYY for Verlander who pitched a complete game (120+ pitches, 13 K's) and was pitching from another planet. What a performance.

[Ret10Echo]

The Astros win....but more importantly, the Yan Kees LOSE. Makes my heart warm. Verlander goes complete game (who does that any more?) while the Pinstripers wear down their bullpen. 2-0 boys... Nice work

[Ret10Echo]

Not even an AL guy but had it on while doing some shelving. So glad the Astros beat the NYY for Verlander who pitched a complete game (120+ pitches, 13 K's) and was pitching from another planet. What a performance.

I'm with you on Verlander's performance. Thank you A.J. Hinch for keeping your starter out there and not playing the ridiculous pitch-count game.

[Badger52]

LCS, Dodgers up 1 - 0
The Cubs' bullpen manages (as happened several times this year) to snatch defeat from the potential jaws of victory.

[Badger52]

LCS, Dodgers up 2 - 0
The Cubs' bullpen manages (as happened several times this year) to snatch defeat from the potential jaws of victory.Lackey. Again. Someone who, a very short time ago, was a part of the regular starting rotation.
:rolleyes:

[bblhead672]

Lackey. Again. Someone who, a very short time ago, was a part of the regular starting rotation.
:rolleyes:

Hopefully the Cubbies will return to winning form at home in Wrigley Field.

[Badger52]

Hopefully the Cubbies will return to winning form at home in Wrigley Field.Maybe they'll freeze the Dodgers out, lol.

[Ret10Echo]

Although I am perfectly happy with the Yan Kees getting flamed I have no objection to the NLDS going deep in the series.

Not seeing a "freeze" in the forecast for Chicago, but for the SoCAL boys I imagine they would be bundled up in Under Armour.

[Badger52]

Although I am perfectly happy with the Yan Kees getting flamed I have no objection to the NLDS going deep in the series.

Not seeing a "freeze" in the forecast for Chicago, but for the SoCAL boys I imagine they would be bundled up in Under Armour.Yes, it'll be above freezing but Wrigley in the fall & early spring can be brutal to those not prepared. Have known people to spend big $$ on cups of coffee just to hold onto it. Field points NE & the wind can seriously whistle in against the dugouts & stands. We'll see what The Professor can do on the mound tomorrow.

[Badger52]

Dodgers are now 1 game shy of going to the Series; man, that was FUGLY.

[bblhead672]

Dodgers are now 1 game shy of going to the Series; man, that was FUGLY.
Beginning to look like the Cubbies are this years example of how difficult it is to repeat as Champions. Tough road ahead to win 4 in a row against the Dodgers.

Also need the Astros to quit messing around with the Yanks and put them away.

[Ret10Echo]

Beginning to look like the Cubbies are this years example of how difficult it is to repeat as Champions. Tough road ahead to win 4 in a row against the Dodgers.

Also need the Astros to quit messing around with the Yanks and put them away.

Looks like they'll go back to Houston trying to push it to 7 now. :mad: Unless they can find a bat in a hurry.

[Badger52]

Looks like they'll go back to Houston trying to push it to 7 now. :mad: Unless they can find a bat in a hurry.
Mrs & I were grabbing a bite tonight in a cafe where the game was on. Domestic tranquility occassionally has some ripples as she is still wishing best for Joe Girardi who we liked from his catcher days with the Cubs. I'm rooting for the Astros because, well... Yankees.
:rolleyes:

[Badger52]

Cubs staying alive; it wasn't pretty but they were scrappy.

There was, to my knowledge, no pole dancing during the 7th inning stretch.

[Ret10Echo]

Cubs staying alive; it wasn't pretty but they were scrappy.

There was, to my knowledge, no pole dancing during the 7th inning stretch.

Sorry there Badger.... Looks like it's about done for even though it's only the 4th inning.

An amazingly hard road to pull off back-to-back appearances never mind victories

[PSM]

I wish I could copy in the NFL here, but I haven't watched an MLB game since the strike 20-some years ago. I wanted to watch Vin Scully's last game but couldn't bring myself to do so. :(

[Badger52]

I wish I could copy in the NFL here, but I haven't watched an MLB game since the strike 20-some years ago. I wanted to watch Vin Scully's last game but couldn't bring myself to do so. :(Ahh, the Dodgers had it all going right, from research to execution. The better team won (convincingly) and that's all there is about it. I will now commence to pull some PM on the bass rigs, commence late-afternoon deer scouting, and subliminally hope the Astros can bring their hopes to fruition, although too busy to be watching whatever that ends up for the WS.

Will be interesting to watch over the winter what the Cubs do with their pitching staff, as they have some free-agents, and a long-in-tooth former starter to consider.
:)

[PSM]

Ahh, the Dodgers had it all going right, from research to execution. The better team won (convincingly) and that's all there is about it. I will now commence to pull some PM on the bass rigs, commence late-afternoon deer scouting, and subliminally hope the Astros can bring their hopes to fruition, although too busy to be watching whatever that ends up for the WS.

Will be interesting to watch over the winter what the Cubs do with their pitching staff, as they have some free-agents, and a long-in-tooth former starter to consider.
:)

I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't watch this game either. I got my life back. ;)

[Ret10Echo]

The dance card is set... Thank you Houston for seeing the Yankees to the door.

I'm sure MLB isn't all that happy with the matchup as they lost a majority of the potential viewers East of the Mississippi.

You could refer to this as the "Elemental" series.

R10

[rsdengler]

The dance card is set... Thank you Houston for seeing the Yankees to the door.

I'm sure MLB isn't all that happy with the matchup as they lost a majority of the potential viewers East of the Mississippi.

You could refer to this as the "Elemental" series.

R10

Hee, Hee....Way to go Astros.......Sweet..Bye Yankees.....:D

[Badger52]

The dance card is set... Thank you Houston for seeing the Yankees to the door.

I'm sure MLB isn't all that happy with the matchup as they lost a majority of the potential viewers East of the Mississippi.

You could refer to this as the "Elemental" series.

R10Amen.With some much discussed pop in the bats, Astros also showed snappy defense. We'll see if their pitchers can execute that other piece of the game - the one where they have to stand in the batter's box. :cool:

[cat in the hat]

Anyone but hillary.

I mean anyone but the dodgers

[Badger52]

Anyone but hillary.

I mean anyone but the dodgersI remember not long after they moved to LA and were still playing in the old Coliseum* (before Walter O'Malley got Chavez Ravine built). Didn't know anything about them but caught a ball from some Cubs player - so the die was cast at least for that 8-year old (kids large & small... ALWAYS take your glove with you).

Later my Dad took me back to the new Dodger Stadium. You could hardly find a drinking fountain & Dad opined that was so Walter O'Malley could force you to drink his over-priced beer. Impressions stick at that age. While I wish the Astros were still in the league that plays real baseball, if I had to wish a team well it would be them. Because... well, Dodgers.

One thing in the Wrigley playoffs that did make me chuckle was a sign a fan held up outside as the Dodgers players' bus arrived, something along the lines of: "29 years is a long time without a World Series."
:D

* A football stadium; badly re-arranged temporarily for baseball. Until they put a false barrier up in left field, a golfer could hit a home run with a soft pitching wedge.

[Ret10Echo]

Game 1 done....



And given it is World Series time - A painful moment in Red Sox history:

On Oct. 25, 1986, Mookie Wilson's ground ball skipped through Red Sox 1B Bill Buckner's legs, allowing the Mets to score the winning run in the 10th inning. New York would go on to win the World Series, while Boston's curse continued.

[Badger52]

Game 1 done....



And given it is World Series time - A painful moment in Red Sox history:Nice tie-in. And Saint Crispin's Day too. Probably hurt as much as a bunch of French archers.

[Badger52]

Near the end (I thought) I was putting away some tools and HH6 hollers, "Hey, what was it Harry always said about 'the big possum walks late'?"
:cool:

[Badger52]

As much as I wish the AL would go back to pre- rule 5.11 days & ditch the DH, I have to admire the Astros manager's approach to managing his pitchers exhibited last night. (And wayyyy back, there were just pitchers & a few relievers; not the structured role-playing seen nowadays.) But the Astros just used their starter & a reliever (didn't even get to the "closer"). He was getting it done, getting outs, so they rode with him. I lost count but think the metric-frenzied Dodgers used at least a 1/2 dozen in their loss. One of the commentators (Smoltz maybe) pointed out that sometimes you just have to go with the reality in front of your eyes, rather than charts. Was neat to see.

[bblhead672]

Lots of action the past couple of games. It appears all of the pitchers on both teams are tired, turning the Series into a home run derby.

Can Houston pull out one more on the road to bring home a World Series title to their waterlogged area?

[Airbornelawyer]

Lots of action the past couple of games. It appears all of the pitchers on both teams are tired, turning the Series into a home run derby.

Can Houston pull out one more on the road to bring home a World Series title to their waterlogged area?
Hasn't the entire season been a long home run derby?

[Ret10Echo]

Hasn't the entire season been a long home run derby?

The "juiced" ball debate has been ongoing. Hurts the small park teams where pitchers don't want to go there and hurt their necks watching moon-shots scream over the wall (or out of the park)

[Badger52]

I think your assessment of tired bullpen on both sides is valid. Last night's game was a brawl; no one in that park who paid presumably obscene money to be there can say they didn't get their dime's worth.

Prediction: If Verlander pitches game 6 anything near like he did Game 2, the title will come back to Houston. Any takers? I can probably cover it in Venezuelan Bolivars, but I need to round up a few pallets first.

[Badger52]

The "juiced" ball debate has been ongoing. Someone asked the Cubs' first baseman about that earlier this year & he replied in his typical guileless fashion that, yeah, the ball is different. The stitches aren't as high (which has caused a 4x increase in pitchers on the DL with blisters) and also reduces drag which a) maintains velocity closer to the plate and b) gets you about 20-30' more distance, given identical launch angles. Which is like getting caught on the warning track for an out versus into a fan's glove for a dinger. Fan$ love dinger$.

[Old Dog New Trick]

You don’t play with the balls you want, you play with the balls you have. Anything else is ghey.

Stroke the shaft cradle the balls!

Unlike the Patriots both teams have the same balls.

[Ret10Echo]

Old Dog New Trick; You don’t play with the balls you want, you play with the balls you have. Anything else is ghey.



Numbers of HR are climbing.... over 6,000 this year (500 more than '16 and 1,100 more than '15). By the same token, the number of strikeouts was up in '17 as well so the all-or-nothing factor may apply.

I think what we're seeing has more of an effect on how pitching staff are utilized and how many specialties there are in the bullpens to support a "starter" that may only go 4 or 5 innings. Heck 6 innings and >3 runs gives you a "quality start".

[Badger52]

Heck 6 innings and >3 runs gives you a "quality start".LOL. Thanks, now I really feel old from when that meant something like a complete game shut-out, or a no-hitter.

[Airbornelawyer]

Numbers of HR are climbing.... over 6,000 this year (500 more than '16 and 1,100 more than '15). By the same token, the number of strikeouts was up in '17 as well so the all-or-nothing factor may apply.

I think what we're seeing has more of an effect on how pitching staff are utilized and how many specialties there are in the bullpens to support a "starter" that may only go 4 or 5 innings. Heck 6 innings and >3 runs gives you a "quality start".
I agree with this assessment more than with a change to the balls themselves, though that may also be a factor.

Average fastball velocity has been climbing practically every season, while the percentages of fastballs thrown has been falling. Starting pitchers are wearing themselves out more quickly and making it into the 7th inning apparently makes you a superstar. Since 2000, only one pitcher has reached double digits in complete games - James Shields with 11 in 2011 - and that was a one-off, since his highest number in any other season was 3. So the starters throw their arms out for 5-6 innings, and then a bunch of fresh relievers come in and throw all they have.

And hitters seem to be all about the "three true outcomes" - HR, walk or strikeout - taking all those breaking pitches and hunting the fastball. It's become a cliche that hardly anyone plays small-ball or hits situationally. You would think that professional hitters like Chris Davis of the Orioles, who get exaggerated shifts every time they come to the plate, would learn how to adjust and slap the ball opposite the shift, but they don't. Davis ought to be able to hit a bunt single down the third-base line every time he comes to the plate, but I think I saw him try that maybe once or twice last season. Nope, 195 strikeouts in 524 plate appearances.

The hitters are also into newer metrics like launch angle. In an interview/hitting clinic I saw last year on MLBNetwork, Josh Donaldson talked about how from little league through the minors, he was taught to try to get on top of the ball, but now all he tries to do is get under it. I suppose the high pop-up should be the fourth "true outcome."

Exit velocity is the other trendy metric, although hitters are only partly in control of this one. But this is a function of hitters hunting for fastballs which are themselves on average of a higher velocity, so simple physics says if you connect at the right spot, the ball will go farther faster.

Another factor is that while even if the balls coming from the factory are the same as in seasons past, the balls in use over the course of a game are not. Dave Johnson, a MASN commentator who was an Orioles starter from 1989-91, recently noted that he would often use the same baseball over multiple innings, noting the same scuff mark when he got to the mound and picked up the ball each inning. Former reliever Dan Plesac on MLBNetwork a few months ago also noted a preference for using the same ball as long as possible, since any nick or scuff would give him repeatable performance, and he would get annoyed when a player tossed a ball he liked into the stands at the end of an inning. These days, I think the average life of a baseball is only a handful of pitches. As a result, then, on average, hitters are swinging at smoother balls, another factor accounting for reduced drag and more distance. Even small incremental factors like this add up over the thousands of pitches an everyday players faces over the course of a season.

[Badger52]

And hitters seem to be all about the "three true outcomes" - HR, walk or strikeout - taking all those breaking pitches and hunting the fastball. It's become a cliche that hardly anyone plays small-ball or hits situationally. You would think that professional hitters like Chris Davis of the Orioles, who get exaggerated shifts every time they come to the plate, would learn how to adjust and slap the ball opposite the shift, but they don't. Your whole post, along with this, is a good overview; many factors, true.

I recall last year when Cleveland practically shutdown the Cubs' Bryant & Rizzo (the old "enemy gets a vote" thing) when opponents adjusted to defeat their strengths. Even though they didn't repeat this year, Rizzo kept his productivity up (for the team) taking extra practice on outside pitches that he could burn the other team's shift on. As you intimate (I think) it comes down to what goal a player is looking for - individual stats... or team winning.

[Old Dog New Trick]

The fat lady sang!

Great job Houston Astros! Well done!

[Badger52]

First ever for them. They had it going on tonight when they needed it most, and can say they beat the biggest payroll in baseball. Well done gents.
:cool:

[Ret10Echo]

Well done Houston.

A great series. Getting to Darvish early paid off. (I think I saw that his W.S. ERA is 21.60 :eek: )

Always interesting to see how the Managers roll when there is no tomorrow. Bringing out starters in relief or to close things out is trendy



Now "Next Year" begins.

May your trades be productive and farm system filled.

[bblhead672]

Good Series. Congrats to Astros on their first World Series Championship, and to the Houston area which needed a morale boost after the hurricane flooding.

Yu Darvish's WS meltdown in two starts will go down as epic failures to perform on the big stage. I was saying the manager should pull him after the first two runs scored in the 1st Inning as he was exhibiting the same lackluster performance. He never should have pitched the second, although at that point the Astros had scored all the runs they would need.

103 days until spring training begins!

[Box]

I have been a Houston fan ever since they decided to put a minor league team in Fayetteville earlier this year...

[Badger52]

I have been a Houston fan ever since they decided to put a minor league team in Fayetteville earlier this year...Neat. Those can be really fun. Wish we had someone's (well, not anyone's) minor-league outfit around here.
Plus it's a much cheaper day or night out than I imagine some parks hook you for. (At least it was when I lived down in the Quad Cities in a galaxy far away.)

[milkman]

It was a great World Series, with outstanding athletic performances from both sides
!