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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Destiny Of Chaos on February 09, 2018, 10:44:44 AM
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2017 Thread - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=49536.0
2016 Thread - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=45462.0
2015 Thread - https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=43353.0
Another year, and another long time Championship drought has come to an end. The Houston Astros core of young exciting players powered their way to the franchise’s first World Series Championship.
There seems to be only a handful of teams that look to be contenders, while most teams are mired in rebuilds. On top of that, free agency has all but hit a standstill, with many big names without new deals heading into spring training. But there were some big trades, none seemingly bigger than Stanton to the Yankees.
New Managers
Boston – Alex Cora takes over for John Farrell.
Detroit – Ron Gardenhire, formally of the Minnesota Twins takes over for Brad Ausmus
N.Y. Mets – Mickey Callaway takes over for Terry Collins
N.Y. Yankees – Former Yankee player Aaron Boon takes over for Joe Girardi.
Philadelphia – Gabe Kapler takes over for Pete MacKanin, who will remain with the organization.
Washington – Dave Martinez takes over for Dusty Baker.
The 2018 All Star Game will take place in Washington D.C., marking the 4th year in a row that the game will be played in a National League ballpark.
What is the state of your team heading into the new season? Any early predictions for anything that we’ll see?
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Any early predictions for anything that we’ll see?
The Mariners will be mediocre. I know what you are thinking... "But Cool Chris, how can you make such a bold prediction like that?" Call it a hunch. I certainly am not basing it on any sort of historical track record the franchise has.
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Go Dodgers!!! This will be six division titles in a row, and I don't think anyone in the NL is significantly improved, so I predict relatively smooth sailing to the World Series. Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager will continue to cement their status as two of the best young players in the league. Kershaw will have a bounce-back regular season (not that 2017 was bad, but it wasn't up to his personal standards). Hopefully Julio Urias comes back as predicted or earlier, and I think Walker Buehler will take a run at the Dodgers third straight Rookie of the Year award.
The giants will continue to suck balls (as it should be).
I don't think there's any way the Yankees don't win the AL East, but this just feels like the early 2000s when the Yankees tried to buy Championships and were continually defeated in the playoffs by inferior teams.
The Astros will probably repeat in the West. The Angels are much improved, but they have shit for pitching. Watching what happens with Otani will be interesting.
The Indians and Cubs will almost certainly repeat in the Central Divisions, as will the Nats in the NL East.
Somewhere along the way, we'll get a surprise team or two, and that will be interesting to watch for.
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the Brewers overachieved big time last season. They were in the process of a complete rebuild but scratched that by trading for Christian Yelich and signing Lorenzo Cain. They are still looking for an ace in the rotation but have a lot of good young arms knocking on the major league door. Still talk of Darvish and Arrietta as possibilities, but I don't think they want to really bust the bank at this point.
Wouldn't surprise me if they are a better team this year and have a worse record.
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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
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METS BABY!!!!!
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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
My gut tells me they will regret that contract. Not a big believer in Darvish. Too big a number for a 2 guy in my opinion.
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Surprisingly my Twins were one of the teams in on Darvish in the end. I hope missing out works out well in the end. I think by the last 2 or 3 years of that contract won't be worth it, but if he can lead them to another WS in the next year or two, it will be worth a few bad years. I'll be very interested to see what the Twins do now. They definitely need another good starter.
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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
My gut tells me they will regret that contract. Not a big believer in Darvish. Too big a number for a 2 guy in my opinion.
I agree Tick. Honestly, I’ve never been impressed by the guy. Talented for sure but I see nothing special about him. Especially not $25 million a year special at this point in his career.
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Go Dodgers!!! This will be six division titles in a row, and I don't think anyone in the NL is significantly improved, so I predict relatively smooth sailing to the World Series. Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager will continue to cement their status as two of the best young players in the league. Kershaw will have a bounce-back regular season (not that 2017 was bad, but it wasn't up to his personal standards). Hopefully Julio Urias comes back as predicted or earlier, and I think Walker Buehler will take a run at the Dodgers third straight Rookie of the Year award.
:tup
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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
Can't believe the Dodgers actually wanted him back.
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The Astros are my fav team right now because of Jose Altuve playing there, but it could also be Detroit Tigers b/c of Miggy. I always go with the ones with Venezuelan players in the roster.
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Looking forward to the fireworks display that Judge and Stanton should be able to put on this season.
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The giants will continue to suck balls (as it should be).
When was your last title? That's what I thought....
:GiantsMetal:
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Big Yankees fan here.
Of course I am excited for the offensive potential this team has, but not sure the pitching will hold up, with no real changes/additions.
Can Tanaka get back to what he was 2-3 years ago? Can we expect another over-par season from CC? Will the young guys keep improving (Montgomery, Gray, Severino)?
Either way, we should win the East, even if we win a lot of 8-7 games.
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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
Good riddance!
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs are close to signing Yu Darvish for appx. 6 years, 150 million.
Can't believe the Dodgers actually wanted him back.
I think one of the multitude of Dodgers front office folks (can't remember which one) said at the fan fest a couple weeks ago that the chances of him re-signing with the Dodgers were in the single digits. I think it was more of a "we'll take him back AT THE RIGHT PRICE, which is a lot less than he'll get elsewhere" situation. The only real concern is that the Dodgers don't really have a #1 RH starter going into spring training. I guess Maeda will fill that role until someone supplants him, but I think Maeda proved himself better out of the bullpen and a spot starter. Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart aren't the answer, and I'm not sure Walker Buehler is ready yet. I'd like to think the Dodgers are kicking Jake Arrieta's tires, but we'll see.
The giants will continue to suck balls (as it should be).
When was your last title? That's what I thought....
Yeah...yeah. Sadly, what is and what should be aren't always the same thing.
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:biggrin:
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No, no, no, my Cincinnati Reds have the monopoly on the ball sucking. They will continue to field a decent team offensively with lots of good young talent, with the exception of the pitching staff.
Why?
Because they gave a gazillion dollars to Homer Bailey a few years back, who hasn't played a full season since he became a gazillionaire. He sucks...as does the rest of their pitching staff. And unlike the Cubs...who built a solid team through the draft and then went out and bought pitching, the Reds are hoping they can build both through the draft.
Unfortunately, Hunter Greene is only 18, and he's one guy.
So, back to ball sucking they go for another year.
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No, no, no, my Cincinnati Reds have the monopoly on the ball sucking.
I feel bad for Joey Votto, but good on him for not whining and sucking it up.
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Boston gets their man... no officialy. 5 years, $110 for J.D.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22584613/boston-red-sox-officially-sign-jd-martinez-5-year-deal-2022
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Boston gets their man... no officialy. 5 years, $110 for J.D.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22584613/boston-red-sox-officially-sign-jd-martinez-5-year-deal-2022
So...whose spot in the Sox outfield does he steal?
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The PA wants these teams to spend their money.... get these FAs signed.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22595160/mlbpa-files-revenue-sharing-grievance-miami-marlins-oakland-pittsburgh-pirates-tampa-bay-rays
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Major League Baseball Players Association has filed a grievance against the Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, accusing the teams of failing to appropriately spend revenue-sharing money.
The union says the grievance was filed Friday. Major League Baseball says the complaint has "no merit." The A's, Marlins and Rays did not immediately comment.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly released a statement saying that the grievance against his team "is patently baseless."
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Boston gets their man... no officialy. 5 years, $110 for J.D.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22584613/boston-red-sox-officially-sign-jd-martinez-5-year-deal-2022
So...whose spot in the Sox outfield does he steal?
DH fill in when others are given a day off.
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Mets fan here. To say last year was a disappointing year would be a huge understatement. Had very high hopes going into last season and never thought it would have been possible for them to finish as poorly as they did. Given the way last year went I had low expectations for this year, but I like the moves they’ve made and on paper I think they have a good team. Health will be the biggest issue with them as deGrom is their only pitcher who has been able to stay healthy. If their pitching staff is healthy and plays to their potential, they will be very tough. That’s always been a big if with the Mets though. Cespedes needs to stay healthy too. I love the addition of Frazier as I think he’s a great clubhouse guy and can be the leader this team has been missing since David Wright has been hurt. So I’m hopeful for a good season, but as a Mets fan hope is usually all I have.
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The giants will continue to suck balls (as it should be).
When was your last title? That's what I thought....
:GiantsMetal:
When was YOUR last NL WEST title?? :justjen :lol
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A true opening day, with all 30 teams playing today!
2018 Predictions
AL East
1. New York
2. Boston (WC)
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Tampa Bay
AL Central
1. Cleveland
2. Minnesota
3. Kansas City
4. Chicago
5. Detroit
AL West
1. Houston
2. Los Angeles (WC)
3. Seattle
4. Texas
5. Oakland
NL East
1. Washington
2. New York
3. Philadelphia
4. Atlanta
5. Miami
NL Central
1. Chicago
2. Milwaukee (WC)
3. St. Louis
4. Cincinnati
5. Pittsburgh
NL West
1. Los Angeles
2. Arizona (WC)
3. Colorado
4. San Francisco
5. San Diego
ALCS - New York defeats Houston
NLCS - Washington defeats Los Angeles
World Series - Washington defeats New York
Hope I'm wrong.
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LETS GO YANKEES! :metal :metal :metal
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I have hopes that the Twins can play a little better than expected and get into the playoffs again. On paper they're a better team than last year, but they're going to need a few guys to step it up this year and many of the players are still very young. They definitely have a one year window right now to go far if a few things click in place. A ton of their veteran players are on one year deals or in the last year of their deals, so the team could look very different next year. Not sure if their starting pitching will be good enough unless a few guys have career years.
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And the Orioles announce a day or two ago that there will be zero games available over the air for free this year. Meanwhile, the local affiliate that's carried them for 64 years has been running ads for Opening Day. Yeah, as we find out, for the frickin' pregame!
Not that twenty games was a bunch, but it's yet another thumb up the arse by an owner who has made a bunch from a publicly financed stadium. Not the best PR, but that's never affected his decision making.
We basically 'cut the cord' two years ago, saving us well over $100 a month. We would pay $10-20 a month for their sports network (MASN), but Comcast doesn't offer things like that. And for those who say, 'get mlb.com', that isn't offered either as an individual purchase. And the O's don't stream their games.
How the hell is MLB going to maintain/grow a fan base, if they are too stupid not to televise their product?
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And the Orioles announce a day or two ago that there will be zero games available over the air for free this year. Meanwhile, the local affiliate that's carried them for 64 years has been running ads for Opening Day. Yeah, as we find out, for the frickin' pregame!
Not that twenty games was a bunch, but it's yet another thumb up the arse by an owner who has made a bunch from a publicly financed stadium. Not the best PR, but that's never affected his decision making.
We basically 'cut the cord' two years ago, saving us well over $100 a month. We would pay $10-20 a month for their sports network (MASN), but Comcast doesn't offer things like that. And for those who say, 'get mlb.com', that isn't offered either as an individual purchase. And the O's don't stream their games.
How the hell is MLB going to maintain/grow a fan base, if they are too stupid not to televise their product?
Do not miss Angelos..... at all.
Go Phillies!
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And the first PITCH of the 2018 season results in a home run.
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Cubs sent 9 to the plate in the first and scored 3 runs with only 1 hit. LOL!
Will the Marlins lose more or less than 110 games this year?
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Cubs sent 9 to the plate in the first and scored 3 runs with only 1 hit. LOL!
Will the Marlins lose more or less than 110 games this year?
I'll take the under. But not by much. I'm guessing 57-105. Feel bad for Donnie Baseball. Not his fault.
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Cubs sent 9 to the plate in the first and scored 3 runs with only 1 hit. LOL!
Will the Marlins lose more or less than 110 games this year?
Nice to see MLB hand the Cubs a cake walk first series of the year :lol
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Cubs sent 9 to the plate in the first and scored 3 runs with only 1 hit. LOL!
Will the Marlins lose more or less than 110 games this year?
Nice to see MLB hand the Cubs a cake walk first series of the year :lol
To be fair... the schedule was released before the Marlins traded all of their studs away.
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Swarber is having issues, and the Marlins are back in it.
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George Springer leads off with a HR as well.
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George Springer leads off with a HR as well.
I hate that guy....
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Looking forward to the fireworks display that Judge and Stanton should be able to put on this season.
LETS GO YANKEES! :metal :metal :metal
Stanton with a 2 run bomb in his first at bat :metal :metal
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Boston should have had Sale pitch for another few innings
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Giancarlo Stanton is on pace for 324 HRs! :lol
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1-0 win on the road against the Dodgers with Kershaw on the mound, hell of a way to start the season...
:GiantsMetal:
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13ish hours later and opening day is over! Gonna be a great season.
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The Dodgers are the most expensive team in baseball without wins or runs. Wow. :\
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The Dodgers are the most expensive team in baseball without wins or runs. Wow. :\
:GiantsMetal:
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3-0.
Go Brewers!
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The Dodgers outscored the giants 14-2 in the opening four game series and still only earned a 2-2 split. A virtually impossible task.
Only 158 games to go before the playoffs start!
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The Dodgers outscored the giants 14-2 in the opening four game series and still only earned a 2-2 split. A virtually impossible task.
Only 158 games to go before the playoffs start!
I watched the game last night. LA/SF always feels like a playoff game.
I have great memories of the TACs going out to Dodger Stadium three years ago.
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Dodgers go up 5-4 in the 14th only to blow it in the bottom of the 14th. Wow. :\ :tdwn
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Dodgers go up 5-4 in the 14th only to blow it in the bottom of the 14th. Wow. :\ :tdwn
I almost can't watch those games. Several times yesterday that I felt like I had to turn the TV off and just check the score later. And it's only April.... Justin Turner can't get back soon enough.
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Dodgers go up 5-4 in the 14th only to blow it in the bottom of the 14th. Wow. :\ :tdwn
:GiantsMetal:
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So the fact that this thread isn't titled "MLB YADDA YADDA" threw me way off.
Dat Red Sox / Yankee game yesterday :lol
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So the fact that this thread isn't titled "MLB YADDA YADDA" threw me way off.
Dat Red Sox / Yankee game yesterday :lol
Glad you found the thread!
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Again...
Dat Red Sox / Yankee game yesterday :corn
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@ DOC... Chris, what's your opinion of Matt Wieters? Did he ever reach his potential with the O's?
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Questions for folks in New York:
1. Where would you recommend an out-of-towner with no rooting interest in either team sit at Yankee Stadium (aside from the overpriced seats behind home plate?
2. Same question about Citi Field, except that I'll be there in my Dodgers gear for a game between the Dodgers and Mets.
3. Any issues being a fan of the visiting team at Citi Field (I'll be there with my 16yo son and, while I cheer for my team, I'm anything but an obnoxious fan)?
4. Any particular concession items that shouldn't be missed (at either park)?
Thanks.
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pg...go to Fenway! ;D
So the Sox are in Anaheim this week. Besides the games being on late, I have to look at Scott Boras the entire fucking game! :censored
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pg...go to Fenway! ;D
Been there; done that (which isn't to say I wouldn't do it again, but the idea is to go to stadiums neither of us have been to).
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pg...go to Fenway! ;D
So the Sox are in Anaheim this week. Besides the games being on late, I have to look at Scott Boras the entire fucking game! :censored
But hey... we've kicked their asses 2x in a row so far...
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pg...go to Fenway! ;D
Been there; done that (which isn't to say I wouldn't do it again, but the idea is to go to stadiums neither of us have been to).
Oh, cool. I get that. How long ago did you come up? Is this a summer thing for you to do?
We don't base vacations around games, but we try and hit a new stadium when we can. You're from California right? Three years ago, we were out there staying at Disneyland. The Angels were out of town, so we hit Dodger Stadium for a game.
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pg...go to Fenway! ;D
Been there; done that (which isn't to say I wouldn't do it again, but the idea is to go to stadiums neither of us have been to).
Oh, cool. I get that. How long ago did you come up? Is this a summer thing for you to do?
We don't base vacations around games, but we try and hit a new stadium when we can. You're from California right? Three years ago, we were out there staying at Disneyland. The Angels were out of town, so we hit Dodger Stadium for a game.
Yes, from California. I work about 5 minutes from Anaheim Stadium and live about halfway between the two stadiums, but I've been a lifelong Dodgers fan. My father (who was born in Brooklyn) moved our family from Garden City, NY to southern California not long after the Dodgers moved out here, which was 8 years or so before I was born. My father saw Dodgers games at both Ebbets Field and Dodger Stadium. His father saw games at Ebbets and Washington Park. I've been to Dodger Stadium so many times that I only really see its flaws now. Anaheim Stadium is newer and more recently renovated, but I don't think it's anything special.
I booked our flights last week. We're flying into JFK on June 19 and back home on June 25. The plan is to see the Yankees on either the 20th or 21st and then the Mets on either the 22nd or 23rd. The Yankees are playing the Mariners, so no rooting interest there. The Dodgers will be playing the Mets while we're out there, so I'm going to try and get seats near the visitor's dugout.
We'll be visiting family on Long Island one day, and I'm also planning on going to one of the local single-A teams (in addition to exploring Manhattan a bit).
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As the Chinese lady in my office who struggles with acronyms said "how about those BJ's!!!"
yes...how about those Blue Jays. They let the Yankees shoddy pitching off the hook last night. 2-14 with runners in scoring...
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Cibbies
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Dodgers swept by the Reds. Just f'n wow. One game out of the cellar. Damn injuries. Thankfully it's still early.
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Lifelong Braves fan here. Born and raised in the Atlanta area. Grew up in the 80's when they were horrible. The 90's were great and it was my teenage years so a lot of fond memories of Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, etc.
I had zero expectations coming into this season. With the front office shakeup and the disaster that has been the past 3 or so seasons, I thought it would be more of the same this season - possible worse. I was more interested at tracking prospects and seeing what Alex Anthopoulos would do to try and right the ship, along with seeing how the young players would fare.
It's been fun to watch so far. Being in first place by mid-May is a huge accomplishment for the team. My only question is, will it last? If they don't win the division but the get a wild card birth, that's a tremendous success for this season.
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Dodgers swept by the Reds. Just f'n wow. One game out of the cellar. Damn injuries. Thankfully it's still early.
I'm just about ready to throw in the towel on this season. Dodgers are now 16-24. In order to reach 87 wins (which was the number of wins the second NL wild card team had last year), the Dodgers will have to go 71-51 over the remaining 122 games. That's a .582 winning percentage. Certainly not undoable, but I've seen nothing that makes me believe the Dodgers will turn it around to that extent. On the positive side both Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe will be coming off the disabled list this week.
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Dodgers swept by the Reds. Just f'n wow. One game out of the cellar. Damn injuries. Thankfully it's still early.
I'm just about ready to throw in the towel on this season. Dodgers are now 16-24. In order to reach 87 wins (which was the number of wins the second NL wild card team had last year), the Dodgers will have to go 71-51 over the remaining 122 games. That's a .582 winning percentage. Certainly not undoable, but I've seen nothing that makes me believe the Dodgers will turn it around to that extent. On the positive side both Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe will be coming off the disabled list this week.
....aaaand they lose to the Marlins. ::)
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Dodgers on the rebound winning 5 out of 6 and sweeping the Nats on the road! :metal :metal :metal
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Dodgers on the rebound winning 5 out of 6 and sweeping the Nats on the road! :metal :metal :metal
After being possibly the best division in baseball last year, the NL West is just bad this year.
After getting off to a torrid start, Arizona has lost 7 in a row and 13 of its last 14.
As a result of Arizona's nosedive, Colorado has taken over first place but has lost 4 of its last 5 and 9 of its last 14.
The Dodgers are closer to first place (3.5 games back) then they are to a .500 record (currently at 22-27 but having won 6 of their last 7).
The next four months are gonna be interesting.
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Just booked The TAC Summer Vacation 2018 last night, and this morning, bought tickets to take in a Giants game. :metal
Damn, it's expensive.
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Just booked The TAC Summer Vacation 2018 last night, and this morning, bought tickets to take in a Giants game. :metal
Damn, it's expensive.
You should hook up with RJ (Lonestar)!!!!
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Just booked The TAC Summer Vacation 2018 last night, and this morning, bought tickets to take in a Giants game. :metal
Damn, it's expensive.
You should hook up with RJ (Lonestar)!!!!
giggity
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Just booked The TAC Summer Vacation 2018 last night, and this morning, bought tickets to take in a Giants game. :metal
Damn, it's expensive.
You should hook up with RJ (Lonestar)!!!!
I KNOW WHO RJ IS!!!
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And JAY!!!!!
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Just booked The TAC Summer Vacation 2018 last night, and this morning, bought tickets to take in a Giants game. :metal
Damn, it's expensive.
My son and I went to a game at AT&T a few years ago. It's a pretty cool stadium (miles better than Candletrash Park, which I visited in the early 90s). Hope the Giants lose but that you enjoy yourself.
My son and I are going to NYC in a couple weeks for games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field (Dodgers v. Mets!) and a Staten Island Yankees game. It's getting close, so I'm starting to get pumped.
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We try and hit a ball park if possible while on vacation.
2015..Dodger Stadium
(https://i.imgur.com/myVzSRN.jpg)
2016...Coors Field
(https://i.imgur.com/SdFvAwC.jpg)
Gee, I wonder what I'll wear to AT&T Park. ;D
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And JAY!!!!!
Do you not realize how large California is? :lol
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Neither does my wife. She's like, oh maybe we'll go to Disney for a day. I'm like WTF?? That's like driving from Virginia to Florida! :lol
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And JAY!!!!!
Do you not realize how large California is? :lol
7 hours away but screw him. Same state! :lol
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So...I was looking at the NL West standings this morning, and it raised a conundrum I've had for a while.
Generally, if a team has a winning record, folks will say that the team is X games over .500, with X being the difference between the team's number of wins and number of losses. For example, as of this morning, the Red Sox are 42-19, so it would typically be said that the Sox are 23 games over .500. It works the same for a team with a losing record. The Orioles are 19-41, so they're 22 games under .500.
However, when we talk about how far ahead one team is over another, we take the difference between Team A's wins and Team B's wins, subtract the difference between Team B's losses and Team A's losses, and divide that result by 2.
Where I'm going with all this is that, as of this morning, the Diamondbacks are 32-28, so one would typically say they are four games over .500. However, the Dodgers are currently a .500 team (30-30). Therefore, the Diamondbacks are, simultaneously, four games over .500 but only two games ahead of a .500 team!
Am I the only one who thinks this makes no sense at all?
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It's because that .500 team plays games too. If the Diamondbacks lost their next two and the Dodgers won their next two, they'd have the same record.
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Where I'm going with all this is that, as of this morning, the Diamondbacks are 32-28, so one would typically say they are four games over .500. However, the Dodgers are currently a .500 team (30-30). Therefore, the Diamondbacks are, simultaneously, four games over .500 but only two games ahead of a .500 team!
(https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/whoa1.jpg)
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Chris Davis is on track to have the worst season in MLB history...
[/It's pretty frightening to be on an "on-pace-for" the worst season of all-time by a large margin when you're nearing mid-June. Chris Davis's on-pace-for in fWAR would rank him 81892 out of 81892 player-seasons since 1901. By NEARLY A FULL WIN.
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) June 7, 2018
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23729870/real-not-chris-davis-worst-season-all
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WTF is "fWAR"?
I really hate "advanced stats" and the fact that MLB Network has started throwing them out there as if they actually mean something. Fortunately, there are at least a couple of the on-air personalities who call BS anytime those things are brought up.
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The dude has only scored 5 runs all season. 5 runs, for an everyday starter.
[/His five runs so fascinated me I even looked them up:
-- April 14: Doubled off somebody named Marcus Walden of the Red Sox and scored on two groundouts.
-- May 2: Singled off Eduardo Paredes of the Angels and later scored on Jace Peterson's triple.
By the way, both of these runs came in the ninth inning of games the Orioles were losing 10-2 entering the frame. I can't even continue.
So I guess in this case.... the advanced stats are spot on!
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing about the shittiness of Chris Davis's season to date. Mine was just a general rant.
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Well that sucks.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23775735/miguel-cabrera-detroit-tigers-remainder-season-ruptured-biceps-tendon
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Well that sucks.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23775735/miguel-cabrera-detroit-tigers-remainder-season-ruptured-biceps-tendon
That is too bad. I wonder if he doesn't think long and hard about hanging up his spikes. I don't know what his contract situation is, but he probably had/has a pretty good chance of getting to 500 home runs and an outside shot at 3,000 hits. He's a lock for the HoF, but it's too bad his Tigers teams could never win a World Series. His 2012 season was just ridiculous, but his follow up in 2013 might have been even better (2 fewer RBI, same number of homers, and BA, OBP and SLG all increased significantly).
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My son and I are finishing up our New York City baseball trip. We saw the Mariners at the Yankees last Wednesday. Mariners took a 5-0 lead, but the Yankees ended up walking it off on a Stanton homer in the 9th. On Thursday, we saw the Staten Island Yankees play a largely forgettable game in front of probably no more than 250 people, but minor league baseball is always fun. Last night, we got to see Clayton Kershaw start for the Dodgers. He only lasted 3 innings, but the Dodgers beat the Mets after Matt Kemp hit a grand slam late in the game.
We also did a bunch of touristy stuff, and today, we're mostly chilling because the streets are packed for the "pride" stuff. We fly back home tomorrow. All in all, a really cool trip.
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Sounds awesome, man. No pics?
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WTF is "fWAR"?
I really hate "advanced stats" and the fact that MLB Network has started throwing them out there as if they actually mean something. Fortunately, there are at least a couple of the on-air personalities who call BS anytime those things are brought up.
Why are they BS? Assembling and studying a hundred years of data in order to understand the game better and disprove ancient myths is BS? I swear baseball is the only sport where fans want to regress instead of progress.
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Today's Dodgers/Mets game was EPIC!!! Dodgers hit 7 HRs including one in the 11th. :metal
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WTF is "fWAR"?
I really hate "advanced stats" and the fact that MLB Network has started throwing them out there as if they actually mean something. Fortunately, there are at least a couple of the on-air personalities who call BS anytime those things are brought up.
Why are they BS? Assembling and studying a hundred years of data in order to understand the game better and disprove ancient myths is BS? I swear baseball is the only sport where fans want to regress instead of progress.
"WAR" and every other "advanced stat" I've ever heard of are BS because they're not based in reality. Take WAR for example. The idea is that a player with a WAR of X got the team X more wins than if that player had been replaced by a hypothetical "average player." Putting aside the fact that the "average player" doesn't actually exist, it is pure speculation whether a team would have won or lost more or fewer games had the player been replaced by a hypothetical "average player." Moreover, no clearly established formula exists for calculating WAR. All of the formulas, however, apply completely arbitrary values to any given statistic.
So, yeah, that's BS.
Sounds awesome, man. No pics?
I tried but am seemingly incompetent. If you want to give me a crash course in how to do it, I'm happy to share.
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Dismiss it all you want, it's a really good (but obviously not perfect) way to compare a player's production as a whole with one number. Look, baseball is a stats driven sport. Always has been, always will be. It sort of irks me when someone venomously mentions "analytics" or similar terms when trying to dismiss it and then turn around and talk about RBIs, pitcher wins, and other team based stats to try to discuss the individual accomplishments as a player.
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Dismiss it all you want, it's a really good (but obviously not perfect) way to compare a player's production as a whole with one number. Look, baseball is a stats driven sport. Always has been, always will be. It sort of irks me when someone venomously mentions "analytics" or similar terms when trying to dismiss it and then turn around and talk about RBIs, pitcher wins, and other team based stats to try to discuss the individual accomplishments as a player.
I disagree that WAR is "really good" or even "good" because it's a purely hypothetical thing. It's no better than someone simply saying, "Player X is better than Player Y." At least with things like RBI, wins, etc., you're looking at real things. An RBI is a real thing. Is it the be all and end all? No, but it's real.
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Dismiss it all you want, it's a really good (but obviously not perfect) way to compare a player's production as a whole with one number. Look, baseball is a stats driven sport. Always has been, always will be. It sort of irks me when someone venomously mentions "analytics" or similar terms when trying to dismiss it and then turn around and talk about RBIs, pitcher wins, and other team based stats to try to discuss the individual accomplishments as a player.
I disagree that WAR is "really good" or even "good" because it's a purely hypothetical thing. It's no better than someone simply saying, "Player X is better than Player Y." At least with things like RBI, wins, etc., you're looking at real things. An RBI is a real thing. Is it the be all and end all? No, but it's real.
Actually, it’s not hypothetical because it’s based on RUNS which has a tangible, direct correlation to WINS. Not a perfect stat, but much better than hoary old-school bunk.
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(https://images.fantasypros.com/images/mlb/players/250x250/3281.jpg)+(https://images.qvc.com/is/image/m/93/m54093.001)
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Price and spherical shaped meat loaf?
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He was serving meatballs last night. Holy shit!
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Dismiss it all you want, it's a really good (but obviously not perfect) way to compare a player's production as a whole with one number. Look, baseball is a stats driven sport. Always has been, always will be. It sort of irks me when someone venomously mentions "analytics" or similar terms when trying to dismiss it and then turn around and talk about RBIs, pitcher wins, and other team based stats to try to discuss the individual accomplishments as a player.
I disagree that WAR is "really good" or even "good" because it's a purely hypothetical thing. It's no better than someone simply saying, "Player X is better than Player Y." At least with things like RBI, wins, etc., you're looking at real things. An RBI is a real thing. Is it the be all and end all? No, but it's real.
Actually, it’s not hypothetical because it’s based on RUNS which has a tangible, direct correlation to WINS. Not a perfect stat, but much better than hoary old-school bunk.
Regardless of how WAR is calcuated (and there isn't even a universally accepted formula), it is completely speculative that having Player A on the team resulted in the team winning X number of games more than if Player A were replaced by a hypothetical "average player."
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He was serving meatballs last night. Holy shit!
Made for a pretty fun back and forth over Saturday and Sunday while on vacation with friends who are Red Sox fans :lol
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All three games were over in the first inning!
Sox bounce back against Sherzer and the Nats tonight. Porcello a 3 run double.
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Dodgers scored 17 runs on the Pirates in the first six innings of the game, and Matt Kemp went 5 for 5 with 4 RBI. One run scored when the pitcher and catcher couldn't connect on the throw back to the mound with a runner on third base. It was like watching a little league game. I fully expect to be no-hit tonight -- especially since Kershaw is starting, and he always seems to get shitty run support.
Also, did anyone see Yasiel Puig score from second on a grounder to second on Sunday? Some pretty impressive baserunning from a guy who is sometimes too aggressive on the basepaths. Check it out.
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Brewers still with the best record in the NL!
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You all need to search for the Red Sox on the 4th before they boarded their plane. All wore patriotic closes. Chris Sale FTW! :lol
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What a loser David Price is. Horrible signing. Gets the lead against a terrible team and promptly hits 3 guys to force in the tying run. Always gets destroyed by the Yankees. Averaging about 3 million per win, nice value ::)
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Yup. Watching the game. What a clown.
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I love Rougned Odor. That guy can play on my team anytime.
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It’s more of a military recruitment exercise than an all-star game :facepalm:
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Nothing wrong with honoring the real heroes before the entertainers play their game
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Huh, I used to work with the guy who is Ump'ing the left field line in the All-Star game. When I knew him he was going through the classes to be an Ump. Nice to see he made it to the show.
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So I have a few thoughts.
I LOVE the All Star game. Love it. I never miss it. I loved it as a kid and it's the one game a year that I most look forward to. It's great seeing the best players in the game in one place. There are so many amazing players. Judge, Harper, Trout, Betts.
Speaking of Harper, the Nats are televised quite often so I've seen many of his games. I hear a lot of people calling him a dick, but I'm just not seeing it. I love him as a player, and he's showing very well here in his home field. Thoroughly enjoyed the interview during the game. That guy can play on my team any day.
It’s more of a military recruitment exercise than an all-star game :facepalm:
So, I don't mean any disrespect, I really don't but I'm going to say it...the honoring of the military at sporting events like this just seems....unoriginal. I'm all for vets and active service men and women getting their due, but this just seems like sports is out of ideas.
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So, I don't mean any disrespect, I really don't but I'm going to say it...the honoring of the military at sporting events like this just seems....unoriginal. I'm all for vets and active service men and women getting their due, but this just seems like sports is out of ideas.
I'm not watching the game, so I'm not really sure what's going on, but you can be absolutely certain that considering the image troubles that the NFL is having (with the flag protests), that MLB is going to go way out of their way to project the opposite image.
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I am amused by them mic'ing players on the field while they play.
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So I have a few thoughts.
I LOVE the All Star game. Love it. I never miss it. I loved it as a kid and it's the one game a year that I most look forward to. It's great seeing the best players in the game in one place. There are so many amazing players. Judge, Harper, Trout, Betts.
Speaking of Harper, the Nats are televised quite often so I've seen many of his games. I hear a lot of people calling him a dick, but I'm just not seeing it. I love him as a player, and he's showing very well here in his home field. Thoroughly enjoyed the interview during the game. That guy can play on my team any day.
This is more or less how I feel. I have always loved the all-star game, and seeing players from different teams playing together was always a fun novelty. I always rooted for the NL, but who wins and loses has never really mattered to me (even during the "this time it counts" era). Also agree about Harper. All of the on-field interviews were enjoyable (particularly Lindor), and it's nice to see guys enjoying the game for what it is.
That being said, the game itself kinda sucked (and not just because a Dodger pitcher giving up homers to Astros gave me a very bad flashback). The game itself was home run derby; I don't think any runs scored other than via home run. Matt Kemp doubled to lead off the second and then got stranded because the guys after him in the lineup all tried to hit home runs instead of driving Kemp in.
As far as the military tribute stuff, I could do without it (although I think some of the extra stuff was a result of the game being in DC). Fortunately, I watched the game delayed, so I could skip through most of it. Same with the elongated Stand up to Cancer thing. Just play the game.
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Josh Hader with a big oopsie.
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At least we're back to this being what it was always intended to be...just an exhibition game. I watched more of Tuesday's game than the last five combined.
Mic'd players: stupid and distracting. Same with talking to managers during a game. Would rather get a short background story about each batter.
Oh, and Manny to the Dodgers. I'll always be a Tiger fan first, but certainly follow and watch some O's and wish them well. Brooks was the best all around third baseman, but this kid made plays that no one could match. Seems to have reacquainted himself quite well again at SS, and he's handled the whole situation well. Bully for the Dodgers. Glad that the daily topic of the local sports stations and forums of the past nine or so months finally gets put to rest.
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Oh, and Manny to the Dodgers. I'll always be a Tiger fan first, but certainly follow and watch some O's and wish them well. Brooks was the best all around third baseman, but this kid made plays that no one could match. Seems to have reacquainted himself quite well again at SS, and he's handled the whole situation well. Bully for the Dodgers. Glad that the daily topic of the local sports stations and forums of the past nine or so months finally gets put to rest.
I'm kinda "meh" on the acquisition. On the one hand, yes, he's a great offensive player. On the other hand, according to what I saw last night, he ranks 30th among shortstops in some sort of statistic that measures defensive runs saved. Also his power numbers for the prior three seasons averaged 35 HR and 92.3 RBI. His current numbers (through 96/162 games or 59.3% of the season) are 68.57% (for HR) and 70.40% (for RBI) of those average numbers. This concerns me that he may fall off significantly in the second half (especially while making a move over the the NL. That said, I don't have a problem with the price that the Dodgers paid to get him (even assuming he leaves after this season is over).
The other thing is that we didn't really need him. One of the Dodgers' biggest strengths is that virtually everyone (the notable exception being Yasmani Grandal, which isn't a big deal since he's the #1 catcher) plays multiple positions (even if it's just some guys being able to play anywhere in the outfield). Therefore, even though Corey Seager is out for the season, we didn't really need to pick up a shortstop, so this is purely an offensive acquisition. I really hope that the Dodgers' front office makes another big move -- either to acquire a front line starter or a set up reliever. Those are both areas of much greater need.
Either way, GO BLUE!!!
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Oh, and Manny to the Dodgers. I'll always be a Tiger fan first, but certainly follow and watch some O's and wish them well. Brooks was the best all around third baseman, but this kid made plays that no one could match. Seems to have reacquainted himself quite well again at SS, and he's handled the whole situation well. Bully for the Dodgers. Glad that the daily topic of the local sports stations and forums of the past nine or so months finally gets put to rest.
I'm kinda "meh" on the acquisition. On the one hand, yes, he's a great offensive player. On the other hand, according to what I saw last night, he ranks 30th among shortstops in some sort of statistic that measures defensive runs saved. Also his power numbers for the prior three seasons averaged 35 HR and 92.3 RBI. His current numbers (through 96/162 games or 59.3% of the season) are 68.57% (for HR) and 70.40% (for RBI) of those average numbers. This concerns me that he may fall off significantly in the second half (especially while making a move over the the NL. That said, I don't have a problem with the price that the Dodgers paid to get him (even assuming he leaves after this season is over).
The other thing is that we didn't really need him. One of the Dodgers' biggest strengths is that virtually everyone (the notable exception being Yasmani Grandal, which isn't a big deal since he's the #1 catcher) plays multiple positions (even if it's just some guys being able to play anywhere in the outfield). Therefore, even though Corey Seager is out for the season, we didn't really need to pick up a shortstop, so this is purely an offensive acquisition. I really hope that the Dodgers' front office makes another big move -- either to acquire a front line starter or a set up reliever. Those are both areas of much greater need.
Either way, GO BLUE!!!
Machado is generational talent and now the best position player on the Dodgers. Enjoy!
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The question remains: whose roster spot does Machado take?
Currently, the Dodgers have six infielders and four outfielders on the active 25-man roster:
Infield
Bellinger
Forsythe
Muncy
Taylor
Turner
Utley
Outfield
Hernandez
Kemp
Pederson
Toles
Bellinger, Hernandez and Taylor can play infield or outfield. Everyone else is one or the other. Toles might be the most likely candidate (although that leaves the team with a potential shortage of outfielders). I'd really be happy to see Forsythe go. I'd say the same about Utley, but he brings intangibles, and I can't see that happening (esp. after Utley announced he's retiring after the end of the season). The other possibility would be to send one of our 13 pitchers down to AAA.
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Am I wrong or is my friend wrong? We are arguing on Facebook about the A-Rod/Varitek brawl. I hate when a batter glares after getting hit by a pitch. I would curse Red Sox players for doing it.
He says Veritek started it. I say A-Rod should have not slow walked and stare at the pitcher. It was a curve ball and was not intentional.
If it was a fastball to the ribs I could see A-Rod being mad. What do you say?
https://youtu.be/mQUl2JOSVYo
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I never side with pitchers. They are wanna-be tough guys who think it is fine to plunk a hitter or pump their fists after a strikeout, but the second a batter looks at them after getting hit or stares at a home fun for more than 1.9 seconds, they act like massive crybabies.
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I never side with pitchers. They are wanna-be tough guys who think it is fine to plunk a hitter or pump their fists after a strikeout, but the second a batter looks at them after getting hit or stares at a home fun for more than 1.9 seconds, they act like massive crybabies.
I agree.
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This was a curveball. The intent wasn't to hit him.
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This was a curveball. The intent wasn't to hit him.
ARod wasn't even that mad, but with Varitek telling him to shut the F up, of course he was going to tell Varitek to F off.
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A-Rod was glaring in the box. He was jarring with Arroyo.
I hate when Red Sox players do that. You were hit with a curve ball that got away. Take your damn base.
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Varitek totally antagonized the situation, homer.
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You mean after his picture was jarring with A-Rod. If that were true he would have started in the box.
Homer? Please. I already said I hate when alm players, including Red Sox players do this. Also, Varitek deserved to be kicked out.
So again, homer?
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You mean after his picture was jarring with A-Rod. If that were true he would have started in the box.
Homer? Please. I already said I hate when alm players, including Red Sox players do this. Also, Varitek deserved to be kicked out.
So again, homer?
Varitek was the antagonist to the whole thing.
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No. A-Rod jawing and staring started it. Varitek added the gas. In the end both were ejected and rightfully so.
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(https://interactive.nydailynews.com/2016/05/simpsons-quiz/img/simp1.jpg)
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Keep making yourself feel better buy calling me a homer. You can see what I've typed. Nice try.
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Your facebook friend is right. Varitek knew the team needed a spark. Good for him.
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That's what you think. He saw the jarring between his pitcher and the batter. Stepped in between. Words then sparked them squaring off. Varitek deserved to be thrown out. Same for A-Rod.
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But why should A Rod be thrown out? Varitek attacked him. Boston fans make A Rod the villain, but if (whoever was Varitek's backup) was catching, ARod goes to first. Nothing happens. Varitek was jarring with him from the get go.
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(https://media.giphy.com/media/pUeXcg80cO8I8/giphy.gif)
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Lol Kev.
Hey, you don't have to respond. You watch hockey supposedly Tim. Draw a foul? Don't jump in? Come on man.
How about take a curve ball like a man and walk to 1st base without jawing?
I dislike any batter crying like a baby. Take the free base.
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Dang, I was hoping you guys would have stayed up all night and continued that pillow fight. :P
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Dang, I was hoping you guys would have stayed up all night and continued that pillow fight. :P
I know your kinky side now Kev. LOL
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Am I wrong or is my friend wrong? We are arguing on Facebook about the A-Rod/Varitek brawl. I hate when a batter glares after getting hit by a pitch. I would curse Red Sox players for doing it.
He says Veritek started it. I say A-Rod should have not slow walked and stare at the pitcher. It was a curve ball and was not intentional.
If it was a fastball to the ribs I could see A-Rod being mad. What do you say?
https://youtu.be/mQUl2JOSVYo
Before I comment, I will tell you that I'm a Dodger fan and, therefore, biased against the Yankees. I'm also married to a passionate fan of all Boston sports teams and therefore consider the Red Sox my #2 team (and #1 AL team).
I'm also going to point out that it's curious that you invited folks to tell you that you are wrong but don't seem willing to accept being told exactly that.
First of all, while the pitch was a curveball, it clearly was intentional.
Second, I don't recall what led up to this, and that certainly played into it.
Third, it's hard to evaluate without knowing what was said (and, in particular, what Varitek said before Rodriguez started dropping f-bombs).
All that being said, and regardless of Rodriguez "slow walking," this was on Varitek. Rodriguez gave no indication that he was going to charge the mound, so Varitek had no reason to leave his position other than to start something.
Varitek was the antagonist to the whole thing.
No. A-Rod jawing and staring started it. Varitek added the gas. In the end both were ejected and rightfully so.
Rodriguez yapping at Arroyo didn't "start" anything. Batters and pitchers yap at each other all the time without it escalating into a brawl. Had Varitek stayed in his position, nothing would have happened.
How about take a curve ball like a man and walk to 1st base without jawing?
Likewise, how about letting the guy jaw and take his base and move on?
Baseball fights are stupid wastes of time. They need to handle it like hockey: If you leave the bullpen to participate in a fight, you get fined and suspended. If you leave the dugout to participate in a fight, you get fined and suspended. if you leave your position to participate in a fight, you get fined and/or suspended.
Or, we could take the entertainment value up a notch: Have a sniper with rubber bullets positioned near the dugout. If a batter charges the mound, take him down.
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I disagree it was intentional. Shall we here from those involved?
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/921/eLYz70.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pleLYz70j)
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(https://media.giphy.com/media/pUeXcg80cO8I8/giphy.gif)
:lol :lol :lol
I disagree it was intentional. Shall we here from those involved?
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/921/eLYz70.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pleLYz70j)
Source? Is that from some book or something? :lol
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It is from the book, Reverse The Curse.
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(https://i.imgur.com/wM3mPoV.jpg) (https://imgur.com/wM3mPoV)
and..
but with Varitek telling him to shut the F up,
are the exact same thing. Apparently you're reading the cleaned up version.
(https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/70dzkdvogF.G_HJGftYeAw--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9NzQ0O2g9NDIw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/351f795cff0cf542c024f878078d0fe8)
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That's because A-Rod should have. He wasn't hit by a fastball. Suck it up and take the free base. Damn straight every catcher would say that.
A-Rod was the one to tell "Come on" inviting the fight.
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I disagree it was intentional. Shall we here from those involved?
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/921/eLYz70.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pleLYz70j)
The only statement in that blurb about intent is Varitek's statement, "I know Bronson didn't hit him intentionally." I don't know what that's from but I don't find that terribly persuasive (especially given the rather gross mischaracterization of the photo on the cover of the King/O'Nan book). I recognize Arroyo wasn't exactly a world class pitcher, but it would be pretty hard to screw up a 12-6 that badly without some intent. Even if Varitek's purported knowledge came directly from a denial by Arroyo, I don't really believe it, but it doesn't change anything else about this.
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I don't believe the pitch was intentional. Definitely not.
But it was Varitek that blew this up. No question.
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Sorry but he did not hit him intentionally. Tim, I think the fault lies 50/50 and both should have bee. Kicked out.
If A-Rod was hit in the ribs with a fastball with intent, I am with him. This was not that, he should have gone to first and not played the tough guy, Varitek did what ever catcher would do but also deserved to be kicked out for it.
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I'm with you on the intentional part. It was surely NOT intentional.
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The rest of us = Thunderlips
This conversation = Rocky
(https://media.giphy.com/media/fWdWdOpr7dOdG/giphy.gif)
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Who is Thunderlips?
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The guy that's gonna break your back, Meatball.
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Who is Thunderlips?
You're killing me.
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Who is Thunderlips?
I think it was a mid-2000s Norwegian/Dutch black Christian power metal band.
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Who is Thunderlips?
I think it was a mid-2000s Norwegian/Dutch black Christian power metal band.
I can here it now in my head. :lol
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I realize the country is probably sick of watching the Red Sox/ Yankees. I get it. ESPN game next week, BTW.
But this week, it's Cubs/Cards. MLB network showed them the other day as well. I am fucking sick of Cubs/Cards. Who gives a shit?
I love baseball. I am not some mindless bimbo. I'd watch Padres/D-Backs.
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I realize the country is probably sick of watching the Red Sox/ Yankees. I get it. ESPN game next week, BTW.
But this week, it's Cubs/Cards. MLB network showed them the other day as well. I am fucking sick of Cubs/Cards. Who gives a shit?
I love baseball. I am not some mindless bimbo. I'd watch Padres/D-Backs.
But...but...but...the Cardinals fans are the best thing in the world!
Seriously, I agree.
Also, Alex Rodriguez sucks as a commentator, and he has dragged Jessica Mendoza down with him. That booth was WAY better with Boone and Mendoza.
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It was better with Shilling.
I LOVE Matt Vaskerjian. I really miss him on MLB Central. That Flores guy sucks.
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Bryce Harper is available.
I will be shocked if he's not a Yankee by the end of the day. But I wouldn't sleep on Houston either.
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I LOVE Matt Vaskerjian. I really miss him on MLB Central. That Flores guy sucks.
Matt Vasgersian has been the play-by-play guy for the MLB: The Show video game series going back at least as far as the 2010 edition, which was the first one I bought. My son and I call him "Moon Shot Matt" because of one of his homer calls: "High! Deep! THAT is a moon shot, folks! A LONG home run!" He's awesome -- in both the video game world and the real world.
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I like him a lot. He has a great personality, but what I really like about him is that …..he really seems to like baseball.
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Good grief, the Twins have traded away half their roster (a bit of an exaggeration, but they may not be done yet). From an objective standpoint, they were all good moves, but as a fan it's just depressing. After a promising season last year, it looks like we're back in complete rebuilding mode.
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Sale to the 10 day DL. Left shoulder inflammation.
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Dozier is a Dodger! :metal What an infield that's gonna be!
And MV is great, I loved him on MLBN.
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I LOVE Matt Vaskerjian. I really miss him on MLB Central. That Flores guy sucks.
Matt Vasgersian has been the play-by-play guy for the MLB: The Show video game series going back at least as far as the 2010 edition, which was the first one I bought. My son and I call him "Moon Shot Matt" because of one of his homer calls: "High! Deep! THAT is a moon shot, folks! A LONG home run!" He's awesome -- in both the video game world and the real world.
Vasgersian used to call Brewers games back in the early 2000's and he had some interesting HR calls. One of the best/oddest was when Richie Sexson would hit a HR he was say, "I smell Sexon and candy".
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My wife and I are trying to recoup from an incredibly exhausting, but long overdue rewarding weekend of seeing Alan Trammell get inducted into the HOF. Doubled my pleasure to see Morris get in as well. Didn't know that Cooperstown would draw the second largest crowd ever for their ceremony. ;)
Chipper Jones was at times poignant and funny as hell. Hoffman, Thome, and Vlad rounded out a great and classy induction class. Went to their roundtable on Monday, saw the 'Legends' parade on Saturday (started with Al Kaline, ended with Trammell....) after Bob Costas got his Ford Frick award. He brought many a tear when referencing Red Barber, Bob Prince, Chuck Thompson, and Ernie Harwell. I guess I'll start a thread on this later if one doesn't exist now.
My wife and many friends here in the Balto are calling Atlanta 'Baltimore South' after the recent fire sale. I bought my wife a Nick Markakis jersey after they put the city's name on the front, so I've paid some attention to the Braves since he moved on. Will certainly be paying more attention to them as the season progresses, along with the Dodgers after Machado's move.
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Great class of inductees this year. Thome is just a genuine really good guy.
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I gotta say that this year's HoF class really makes me feel like the HoF is turning into the "Hall of Really Good."
Jack Morris: Barely over 250 wins (led the league twice); career ERA of almost 4.00 (highest of any HoF pitcher and never led the league); less than 2,500 Ks and nearly 1,300 non-intentional walks; never won a Cy Young award (never even finished higher than third in the voting); was only an all-star in 5 of 16 full seasons. Dude was brilliant in the 1991 World Series, but his career playoff numbers are otherwise unremarkable.
Alan Trammell: Never led the league in anything; career .285 hitter (which, during the time he played, was a good average for a shortstop but was nothing special); no significant power or run production (185 HR and barely more than 1,000 RBI in 20 seasons/nearly 2,300 career games); a six time all-star and only once a legit MVP candidate.
These were above average players, but they're not HoF-worthy. The others inducted were deserving, but (other than Jones and Thome in the mid-90s) mostly played for crappy teams, so this class was a bit lackluster.
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I gotta say that this year's HoF class really makes me feel like the HoF is turning into the "Hall of Really Good."
Jack Morris: Barely over 250 wins (led the league twice); career ERA of almost 4.00 (highest of any HoF pitcher and never led the league); less than 2,500 Ks and nearly 1,300 non-intentional walks; never won a Cy Young award (never even finished higher than third in the voting); was only an all-star in 5 of 16 full seasons. Dude was brilliant in the 1991 World Series, but his career playoff numbers are otherwise unremarkable.
Alan Trammell: Never led the league in anything; career .285 hitter (which, during the time he played, was a good average for a shortstop but was nothing special); no significant power or run production (185 HR and barely more than 1,000 RBI in 20 seasons/nearly 2,300 career games); a six time all-star and only once a legit MVP candidate.
These were above average players, but they're not HoF-worthy. The others inducted were deserving, but (other than Jones and Thome in the mid-90s) mostly played for crappy teams, so this class was a bit lackluster.
Vlad Guerrero was legit and his Angels teams were among the best during his six years there.
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pg1067.....as to Trammell and Morris, instead of looking at the perceived negatives, look up the reasons why they were voted in. Compare their numbers to those of their era and beyond. They were together for 11 consecutive winning seasons (before Tommy Pizza gutted the franchise).
Their peers in the HOF deemed them worthy, and voted them in the first chance they had. That should be good enough for the rest of us.
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Jack Morris's performance in game 7 of the 1991 series almost made him worthy of the HOF all by itself. If he didn't win that game, I bet he doesn't get in.
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Bob Costas got his Ford Frick award. He brought many a tear
I definitely shed a tear. Because he wouldn't STFU!
I have always like Bob Costas. A lot. He clearly loves baseball, and I think that's cool. But I have felt for a few years now that he has basically become a caricature of himself.
Trammel and Morris are both bubble guys. But to me, so is Vlad Guerrero. Maybe I'm not aware of his numbers, but he never struck me as a HOFer.
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Bob Costas got his Ford Frick award. He brought many a tear
I definitely shed a tear. Because he wouldn't STFU!
I have always like Bob Costas. A lot. He clearly loves baseball, and I think that's cool. But I have felt for a few years now that he has basically become a caricature of himself.
Trammel and Morris are both bubble guys. But to me, so is Vlad Guerrero. Maybe I'm not aware of his numbers, but he never struck me as a HOFer.
Vlad played 16 years.
.318 avg, 2591 Hits (86th all time), 449 HR (40th all time), 1496 RBI (57th all time), OPS .931, 1 MVP, 9 time All-Star
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Great numbers for sure.
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Vlad Guerrero was legit and his Angels teams were among the best during his six years there.
Anaheim won a bunch of AL west titles. The team's continued failure in the playoffs during Vlad's tenure (mostly at the hands of the Red Sox) made me forget that.
pg1067.....as to Trammell and Morris, instead of looking at the perceived negatives, look up the reasons why they were voted in. Compare their numbers to those of their era and beyond. . . .
Their peers in the HOF deemed them worthy, and voted them in the first chance they had. That should be good enough for the rest of us.
First, I'm not "looking at the perceived negatives." I'm looking at the stats and am also relying on my own recall of players who played their entire careers during my lifetime. I don't perceive stats as either positive or negative. They simply are what they are.
Second, no, just because someone else thinks something is not "good enough for" me. Both Trammell and Morris were voted in by the "Modern Baseball Committee," which is part of what the former "Veterans Committee" turned into in 2016. According the HoF's web site, "The Modern Baseball Committee shall consist of 16 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee." They don't appear to publicize who the 16 members of the committee are, so I'm not going to assume their opinions are entitled to any particular level of deference. Keep in mind that the Veterans Committee is the same group that thought Phil Rizzuto was a HoFer, although I suppose, if Rizzuto gets in, then pretty much any shortstop can make it, but that simply proves my original point: that the HoF is turning into the Hall of Really Good.
Jack Morris's performance in game 7 of the 1991 series almost made him worthy of the HOF all by itself. If he didn't win that game, I bet he doesn't get in.
Yup.
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Can the Yankees stop sucking please? Someone needs to shut down Steven Pearce. :lol
BTW - Severino with five or six bad starts in a row...that's odd. I wonder if he is hiding an injury. That's a long slump for a pitcher that has been as dominant as he had been.
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Sam, obviously we keep a close eye on the Yankees here. What's been mind boggling are the defensive breakdowns, the fundamental mistakes, and the lack of hustle.
What's been priceless is that Joe Girardi has been working at night on MLB Network after these games. That guy truly got the best out of that team over the last 5 years. Boone seems to have no control over this team. Wasn't one of the coaches yelling at a few players in the dugout a few days ago?
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I think the most underrated and underappreciated player in the league might be Brett Gardiner.
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I don't post here because baseball bores me and I don't really follow it. I am a VERY casual "Giants fan," I guess. But I don't really follow the sport enough to really consider myself a serious fan of any team.
That said, going to games can be really enjoyable. I was in the Midwest this past week, and had the opportunity to see the Cards play the Cubs in St. Louis, and it was a blast. There's just something about being at a MLB baseball game that is unlike anything else.
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Can the Yankees stop sucking please?
I certainly hope not.
Deadspin apparently published an article this morning proclaiming the Sox as the AL East champs. My wife -- a Boston sports fan, but a casual Sox fan at best -- texted me about it and thought it was literal (she didn't actually read the article). I had to point out to her that, while the Sox have a 9.5 game lead, which will be tough for anyone to overcome, there are still 49/50 games left in the season for the Yankees and Sox, so nothing's even close to being decided.
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1978 anyone? And, as Dennis Leary would say, "Bucky F*cking Dent".
'nuff said
(I still remember seeing that whole game with some college buddies at a campus bar whilst skipping class)
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The Cubs/Padres just played a 4 game set with an umpire crew consisting of both CB Bucknor and Angel Hernandez. The strikezone over the weekend was a disaster thanks to those 2 consecutively behind the plate.
I really don't know what else to say about that. It was an event watching both trend on Twitter Saturday and Sunday due to their complete awfulness.
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The Cubs/Padres just played a 4 game set with an umpire crew consisting of both CB Bucknor and Angel Hernandez. The strikezone over the weekend was a disaster thanks to those 2 consecutively behind the plate.
I really don't know what else to say about that. It was an event watching both trend on Twitter Saturday and Sunday due to their complete awfulness.
I really don't understand how guys like that still have jobs. Why does the umpires union want to protect demonstrably bad umpires who are bad year after year after year? Hernandez actually sued the MLB, claiming that he never was made a permanent crew chief and he doesn't get postseason assignments because of his ethnicity/national origin and his age, and not because he sucks at his job. The lawsuit remains pending.
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Those guys are abominations. I hate unions. A friend of mine has been head of maintenance at local grade school for 20 years and from what I hear the teachers’ union is pretty good at protecting incompetents as well.
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1978 anyone? And, as Dennis Leary would say, "Bucky F*cking Dent".
'nuff said
(I still remember seeing that whole game with some college buddies at a campus bar whilst skipping class)
I was 10 years old and cried like a baby losing that one game playoff at home.
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Nice point here about how difficult it is for one player to make a difference in MLB. It's the ultimate team game. (from Joe Posnanski):
"THE POWER OF ONE"
Small sample sizes, obviously, but look at this: Bryce Harper, March 30-April 16: .315/.487/.778 Hit eight homers in 17 games, scored 17 runs, drove in 17 runs. Team record: 8-9 * * * Bryce Harper, April 17-July 6: .189/.332/.402 Dreadful, 79 strikeouts in 68 games, poor defense, roughly replacement-level play. Team record: 36-33 * * * Bryce Harper, July 7-Aug. 21: .328/.420/.604 He's back, crushing the ball, playing Bryce Harper baseball. In 36 games, 10 doubles, 9 homers, four stolen bases without being caught, back to being a premier player. Team record: 17-20 * * *
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Nice point here about how difficult it is for one player to make a difference in MLB. It's the ultimate team game. (from Joe Posnanski):
"THE POWER OF ONE"
Small sample sizes, obviously, but look at this: Bryce Harper, March 30-April 16: .315/.487/.778 Hit eight homers in 17 games, scored 17 runs, drove in 17 runs. Team record: 8-9 * * * Bryce Harper, April 17-July 6: .189/.332/.402 Dreadful, 79 strikeouts in 68 games, poor defense, roughly replacement-level play. Team record: 36-33 * * * Bryce Harper, July 7-Aug. 21: .328/.420/.604 He's back, crushing the ball, playing Bryce Harper baseball. In 36 games, 10 doubles, 9 homers, four stolen bases without being caught, back to being a premier player. Team record: 17-20 * * *
As you noted, small sample size (indeed, the smallest sample possible). I'm sure many similar examples exist. Likewise, I'm sure there are many examples of a team's fortunes coinciding precisely with the performance of a single player.
By the way, all of this demonstrates how silly "WAR" is.
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There's something to be said for teammates stepping it up with the star player is struggling. I think there's a lot of mental aspects to baseball that you don't see in other sports. It's almost like at times players can will themselves to be better than they are, or talk themselves out of their greatness when they're great players.
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The Tigers in '84 were the perfect example of 'stepping it up'. As were teams in the years of x, y, z up til now. All the fans of 'our' teams can pinpoint a dozen things that went right when our teams won it all.
btw...I'll put up a post in the next couple of weeks where 'the hall of very good' of my guys will outweigh any arguments as to those individuals who would argue that they do not belong in the HOF (with Bill James on my side). Don't p*ss on my parade.
Moving on.....experiencing the induction weekend at Cooperstown is something every baseball fan should experience once in their lifetime. The camaraderie I shared with fellow Tiger fans was a joy as we shared stories of decades of many winning seasons while listening to Ernie Harwell and the 'voice of God' Paul Carey on our little transistor radios. To chat with a Braves or White Sox or Padres fan, and share the love of Chipper and Thome and Hoffman.......there were way too many that I did not share the language regarding Vlad (though I saw his last year in Balto).................
Next year, my wife and I will visit the HOF, on a regular weekday, so that we won't have to fight off the crowds and get to spend the needed time to read the plaques and view the artifacts up close. Yankee fans will get to enjoy Rivera's and Jeter's inductions over the next two years at the phony 'birthplace' of the American game, we're waiting for Lou Whitaker's in three years.
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Just for fun...
List the MLB stadiums you have visited.
Mine:
Anaheim/Angels Stadium (not as often as Dodger Stadium, but lots)
Dodger Stadium (100s of times)
Old Candlestick Park (1991 Cards at Giants)
Camden Yards (somewhere in the 1999-2001 range - Devil Rays at Orioles)
Coors Field (2005ish ?? at Rockies)
Fenway Park (2007 ?? at Red Sox)
Nationals Park (2010 Phillies at Nationals)
AT&T Park (2014 or 15 White Sox at Giants)
Chase Field (2017 Dodgers at Diamondbacks)
New Yankee Stadium (2018 Mariners at Yankees)
Citi Field (2018 Dodgers at Mets)
San Diego is too close for me not to have been there, so that's the next likely candidate. I think the next baseball trip will be Chicago, with Milwaukee and/or Minnesota added. I have a feeling the last stadiums on the list will be Tampa/Miami/Atlanta, simply because I have no real interest in going to those places other than to go to the stadiums.
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Small list for me....
Veterans Stadium - 5 or 6 Phillies games, most notably a game of the 1993 NLCS
Memorial Stadium - Giants vs. Ravens Preseason game in 1997. (If that counts)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards - 10-12 Orioles Games 1997-2015, most notably a game of the 1997 ALCS
RFK Stadium - 2007, Braves vs. Nationals and Orioles vs. Nationals
Citizens Bank Park - 2015, Marlins vs. Phillies.
I'd love to get out an see more ballparks at some point.
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So...it's crunch time. Most teams have 12-13 games remaining.
Red Sox have clinched a playoff birth but not the division. They have an 11.5 game lead on the Yankees with 12 left to play (the Yankees have 13 remaining). The Rays have clinched a winning season and have the same or a better record as two NL division leaders.
Indians have clinched the AL Central. Everyone else in the division is eliminated from playoff contention.
The Astros have a 4 game lead on the A's in the AL West.
The Yankees and A's have the two wild card spots. The Rays and Mariners still have a chance, but it's fading fast. The Angels also theoretically have a chance, but they've got too may teams to hurdle.
Nothing is clinched in the NL, although the Braves have a 6.5 game lead over the fading Phillies. The Nationals have made a little surge and are just a game behind the Phillies.
The Cubs have a 2.5 game lead on the Brewers and a 5.5 game lead on the Cards.
In the West, the Dodgers took a 0.5 game lead on the Rockies last night, with 2 games remaining in their head-to-head series. After finishing the series with the Rockies, the Dodgers have 3 games each against the Padres (at home) and the Giants and Diamondbacks (on the road). The Rockies close with 3 games in Arizona and home series against the Phillies (4 games) and Nats (3 games).
In the NL wild card, the Brewers have the top spot by 3 games over the Cards, who have a half game on the Rockies and 5-7 games on four other teams.
I think the only uncertainty in the AL is the West, but I think the Astros probably pull it out, with the Yankees and A's squaring off in the wild card game. I think the Yankees win that game and will square off in the division round against the Red Sox (which means we'll have a shitload of playoff games that don't finish until after midnight eastern time). I think Chief Wahoo's boys beats the Astros and go on to face the Red Sox in the ALCS, with the Red Sox winning.
In the NL, the Braves, Cubs and Dodgers win the divisions, with the Brewers and Rockies facing off in the wild card game. The Brewers will then beat the Cubs in the division series and the Dodgers will beat the Braves. The Dodgers beat the Brewers in the NLCS and go on to beat the Red Sox in the World Series.
Damn right that's wishful thinking!
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Brewers!
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Gonna be a fun, wild finish in the NL.
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Dodgers with a walk-off against Colorado last night to take the first two games of the series and a 1.5 game lead in the NL West.
Walker Buehler on the mound tonight, hopefully to finish off the sweep. If you haven't seen this kid pitch, check him out. He probably isn't, but he should be, a RotY candidate, and he'll be a Cy Young candidate maybe as early as next season.
Cards and Cubs both had blow out wins, while the Brewers faltered against the Reds, who are apparently enjoying being spoilers.
Blake Snell led the Rays to victory and became the MLB's first 20 game winner this season (and first since the 2016 season). Snell also sports an AL-leading 1.97 ERA (second only to Jacob deGrom in MLB) and a 0.97 WHIP. The Rays gained a game on the A's for the second wild card spot, but are still 5.5 games back.
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David Price earning his paycheck lol. No way I pitch him against NY in the playoffs
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He is a mental case and is not made for Boston/New York.
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David Price earning his paycheck lol. No way I pitch him against NY in the playoffs
Not in NY anyway.
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David Price earning his paycheck lol. No way I pitch him against NY in the playoffs
Not in NY anyway.
Not in any city in the playoffs. He doesn't have the head for pressure.
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Dodgers with the SWEEP over Colorado!!! Up by 2.5 games with 9 remaining (COL has 10). Dodgers are 18-7 in their last 25 games. The only frustrating part of that is that 4 of the 7 losses came against cellar dwellers, the Reds and Mets.
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Sox clinched the AL East at Yankee Stadium. That was nice.
The A's got three touchdowns against the Angels and only gave up a field goal. The A's are now only 1.5 games behind the Yankees for the first wild card spot. I'd love to see the A's pass the Yankees.
Is it just me, but have there been a lot more games this year than in years past in which a team scores 12+ runs? Not sure how I'd look that up, but it seems like we're getting at least one such game just about every week.
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Sox clinched the AL East at Yankee Stadium. That was nice.
:metal
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Mariners extend the longest streak in the 4 major sports of not making the playoffs. Next year that streak will be able to vote, join the armed forces, and buy cigarettes.
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Mariners extend the longest streak in the 4 major sports of not making the playoffs. Next year that streak will be able to vote, join the armed forces, and buy cigarettes.
Hmmm....I wouldn't have guessed the Mariners if you gave me 10 guesses. One year longer than the Cleveland Browns. Ouch.
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Monday update:
Yankees clinched a wild card spot and the Astros clinched a playoff spot. With a 4.5 game lead over the A's with 7/6 games to go, though, the Astros have effectively clinched the AL West. The Sox have the best record wrapped up, and the Indians can't do any better than the third best division record, so that means the only real race is between the Yankees and A's for who hosts the wild card game. Yankees are up by 1.5 games, so I'll be an A's fan until at least the wild card game. The Rays still have a mathematical chance to catch the A's, but the A's magic number is 1. The Rays could possibly win 94 games and miss the playoffs.
In the NL, the Braves clinched the East. Cubs still have a 2.5 game lead on the Brewers with 7/6 games to go. Not undoable, but it would be a real surprise. Dodgers' lead on Colorado is only 1.5 games with 6/7 games to play. Hopefully the Phillies relish their role as spoilers in their 4 game series against the Rockies that start today, and hopefully, the D-Backs continue to suck like they've been doing the last 3 weeks.
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The Rays still have a mathematical chance to catch the A's, but the A's magic number is 1. The Rays could possibly win 94 games and miss the playoffs.
Aaaaaaaaand the A's are in, my FB feed just exploded with jubilant fans. May try and sneak in a playoff game or two if they get past the wildcard, always a good time.
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Brewers inching closer to the Cubs. I'd feel a lot better avoiding the crap shoot that is the one game playoff.
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Brewers inching closer to the Cubs. I'd feel a lot better avoiding the crap shoot that is the one game playoff.
Nice. Unfortunately, the Cubs have a game in hand, and the Brewers are two back in the loss column.
Dodgers have the same 1.5 game lead on the Rockies that the Cubs have on the Brewers. Both teams' remaining games are against eliminated teams. The Dodgers close out at San Francisco, who would like nothing better than to spoil the Dodgers' season.
From the Dodgers' perspective, the most interesting/concerning scenario is if the Rockies make it in as a wild card team, win the wild card game and win their NLDS series. If the Dodgers play the Rockies in the NLCS, they'd potentially be without Kenley Jansen for the games in Colorado.
In other news, in his upcoming final start of the season, Max Scherzer will be shooting for 300 strikeouts in the season, which would make him the first to do it in the NL since Clayton Kershaw had 301 in 2015 (in the AL, Chris Sale had 308 in 2017).
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Congrats to my Sox for the franchise-record 106th win and for Mookie sewing up the MVP award this past week. But Cleveland and Houston have a much stronger starting rotation and I fear Boston will be bounced in the 2nd round :-\ (assuming they get past NY or Oak in the Division Series).
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Brewers inching closer to the Cubs. I'd feel a lot better avoiding the crap shoot that is the one game playoff.
Nice. Unfortunately, the Cubs have a game in hand, and the Brewers are two back in the loss column.
Brewers close within 1 game. Yelich for MVP.
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Brewers close within 1 game. Yelich for MVP.
I've felt this way for a few weeks. He's been amazing.
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Brewers inching closer to the Cubs. I'd feel a lot better avoiding the crap shoot that is the one game playoff.
Nice. Unfortunately, the Cubs have a game in hand, and the Brewers are two back in the loss column.
Brewers close within 1 game. Yelich for MVP.
Actually only 0.5 games back (even in the win column and a game back in the loss column). Brewers have one more at STL today and then tomorrow off, while the Cubs have two more against PIT. Cubs finish with three games against their rival, STL, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning, while the Brewers finish with three at home against the 93-loss Tigers. If the Brewers take care of their own business, I think they have a great shot at winning the division. That could set up a Cubs v. Cards wild card game, which would be pretty cool, but the Cards are currently out of the playoffs (half a game behind the Rockies).
Dodgers gagged away last night's games against Arizona, so they're only half a game up on the Rockies, with the Rockies having a game in hand.
Whoever wins the NL Central will probably have the best record in the NL and will really be sitting pretty if some of the crazy tiebreaker scenarios come into play between the Dodgers, Rockies and Cards.
Over in the AL, the Yankees won and the A's lost yesterday, so the A's are now 2.5 games back in the race to host the wild card game. The A's finish with one game against Seattle and three in Anaheim, while the Yankees have two more against the Rays and three at Boston.
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David Price getting himself into post-season form. Rather have Lowe or Wakefield, they still in shape?
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David Price getting himself into post-season form.
He's not going to get out of the 3rd inning against the Yankees.
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I'm kinda hoping that the Brewers and Rockies win their respective divisions and the Dodgers and Cubs end up in the wildcard game. Also, the ALDS matchup between the Indians and Astros should be a K fest with those two pitching staffs.
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I'm kinda hoping that the Brewers and Rockies win their respective divisions and the Dodgers and Cubs end up in the wildcard game. Also, the ALDS matchup between the Indians and Astros should be a K fest with those two pitching staffs.
Well...you may get your wish. The Dodgers just pissed away 2 of 3 against the D-Backs, so the Rockies are now a half game up with a game in hand (same with the Cubs in the Central). Cards are still in the mix -- a game back of the Dodgers for the second wild card.
Dodgers are off today, and the Phillies host the Rockies this afternoon, so they'll either be even with the Dodgers or a game up by the end of the day. The Cubs will also clear their game in hand at home against the Pirates.
The A's are now only 1.5 behind the Yankees in the AL wild card race.
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6 postseasons in a row for the Dodgers!!! Maybe 6 NL West titles in a row tomorrow!!! :metal :metal :metal
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NL Central and West could both have playoff games on Monday.
Crazy.
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NL Central and West could both have playoff games on Monday.
Crazy.
Which is stupid. Let's say one of the divisions has to have a playoff game to decide the division title. The loser of that game then goes to the wild card game at a serious disadvantage, likely having had to use the starter they would have used in the wild card had they not tied for 1st place in the division.
There should be tiebreakers set in the place without the teams having to play an extra game at the end of the season.
But that's MLB for ya.
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Agreed. What's the point of a 162 game season if it needs extra games to break ties?
We have two of these games tomorrow.
Normally I'd root for a team like Milwaukee..but I hope they never win anything as long as that clown Braun is still on the team.
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It was really fun to have the playoff game back before there were two wildcard teams. A one and done game is pretty exciting. But now that's built in with the wildcard game, so I agree. Just go with head to head record to decide which team has the tiebreaker, with division record being the backup to that.
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NL Central and West could both have playoff games on Monday.
Crazy.
Which is stupid. Let's say one of the divisions has to have a playoff game to decide the division title. The loser of that game then goes to the wild card game at a serious disadvantage, likely having had to use the starter they would have used in the wild card had they not tied for 1st place in the division.
There should be tiebreakers set in the place without the teams having to play an extra game at the end of the season.
But that's MLB for ya.
Well...it'll even out since both the Dodgers/Rockies and Cubs/Brewers have to do the tiebreaker. It's sort of a college baseball-type double elimination thing. The two winners today move to the divisional series, and the two losers play each other in the wild card game. But I was thinking about this yesterday. In a situation where the loser will make the wild card game, I agree that they should just use head-to-head record to determine the division winner. However, if it were a situation where the loser doesn't make the playoffs at all, I'm not sure I'd be happy with using a tiebreaker to determine the division winner. Of course, I'm also an advocate for shrinking the regular season down to 144 games (+/-), which would make having an extra game more palatable.
I do wish they'd reschedule the NL wild card game to Wednesday.
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Also, Christian Yelich being clutch for the Brewers AGAIN.
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Cubs offense laying an egg so far....
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Damn, if I wasn't watching it on TV, you'd think they were playing this game in Milwaukee judging by the crowd.
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I haven't seen many Cubs game this year, but their bullpen looks pretty shaky. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the loser of the NL West game today wins the wild card game tomorrow.
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I have no issue watching the Cubs lose, but I will always root for Jon Lester.
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Holy shit, I thought Rizzo won the game with that swing.
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awwww yeah!!!!!
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I don't really have any good reason for it, but I really dislike Lester, and it frustrates me no end when teams don't take advantage of his recalcitrance to pick off.
In other news, Walker Buehler is no-hitting the Rockies on 69 pitches through 5 innings!
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In other news, Walker Buehler is no-hitting the Rockies on 69 pitches through 5 innings!
Dave Roberts pulls Buehler after 6 2/3 IP (93 pitches) after giving up a harmless single in the 6th and a walk in the 7th. Buehler even drove in a run! Middle of the 7th, and the Dodgers are up 5-0.
I haven't been a huge fan of how Dave Roberts has handled the Dodgers' pitchers and lineup, and I questioned whether starting Buehler today was the right move. But I now think it's working out very well. Not to get ahead of things, but it's now shaping up that we'll be able to start the NLDS (at home) on Thursday with Clayton Kershaw on normal rest, followed by Hyun Jin Ryu in game 2 and Buehler and Hill in games 3 and 4 (or vice versa). I don't have a ton of insight into the Braves, but I do feel pretty good about drawing them in the NLDS.
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Yeesh....does any playoff team this year feel less secure about its closer than the Dodgers?! Took a 5-0 lead into the 9th and brought in Kenley Jansen even though he has historically performed poorly in non-save situations, and he proceeds to give up back-to-back solo homers to Arenado and Story before getting the next three batters on a groundout and two strikeouts.
So that sets up the final playoff pairings:
Rockies at Cubs in the NL wild card game tomorrow.
A's at Yankees in the AL wild card game Wednesday
Braves at Dodgers in the NLDS starting on Thursday
Rockies/Cubs at Brewers in the NLDS starting on Thursday
Indians at Astros in the ALDS starting on Friday
A's/Yankees at Red Sox in the ALDS starting on Friday
Four games on Friday and four on Monday!
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Yeesh....does any playoff team this year feel less secure about its closer than the Dodgers?! Took a 5-0 lead into the 9th and brought in Kenley Jansen even though he has historically performed poorly in non-save situations, and he proceeds to give up back-to-back solo homers to Arenado and Story before getting the next three batters on a groundout and two strikeouts.
Yea it's gonna be scary for sure. But WB is ready for the big time. We're watching our future ace become a man!
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Yeesh....does any playoff team this year feel less secure about its closer than the Dodgers?! Took a 5-0 lead into the 9th and brought in Kenley Jansen even though he has historically performed poorly in non-save situations, and he proceeds to give up back-to-back solo homers to Arenado and Story before getting the next three batters on a groundout and two strikeouts.
Yea it's gonna be scary for sure. But WB is ready for the big time. We're watching our future ace become a man!
For sure, and that's the best thing to come out of this season.
The only bummer is that we probably won't get to see Kershaw and Buehler in sort of a 1A and 1B ace situation (whether that's because Kershaw isn't what he used to be or because he walks after this year).
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The order of who I'll be casually rooting for:
1. Oakland
2. Cleveland
3. Colorado
4. Houston
5. Chicago
Who I think Will win....
Chicago beats Colorado
NY beats Oakland
Atlanta beats LA
Milwaukee beats Chicago
Cleveland beats Houston
Boston beats NY
Milwaukee beats Atlanta
Boston beats Cleveland
Boston beats Milwaukee
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The order of who I'll be casually rooting for:
1. Oakland
2. Cleveland
3. Colorado
4. Houston
5. Chicago
Who I think Will win....
Chicago beats Colorado
NY beats Oakland
Atlanta beats LA
Milwaukee beats Chicago
Cleveland beats Houston
Boston beats NY
Milwaukee beats Atlanta
Boston beats Cleveland
Boston beats Milwaukee
I know I'm biased, but I think that the DS series most likely to go by way of a sweep is Dodgers over Braves. The Dodgers bats have been getting hot, and the Braves starting pitching is, on the whole, mediocre. And, for a change, the Dodgers enter the postseason on a roll and having been playing playoff type games for the past couple weeks. Despite Kershaw's well-publicized postseason struggles, he's at his best at Dodger Stadium, and Hyun-Jin Ryu has been one of the best pitchers in the NL since coming off the disabled list and is lights out at home. I have a feeling games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium won't be close, and Walker Buehler may well pitch a shutout in game 3 in ATL.
I too am rooting for the A's over the Yankees, but you're probably right that the Yankees will win that game. I'm with you on all of the other series, with the possible exception of Cleveland and Houston -- I'm just not sure about that one since I don't know enough about Cleveland this year and how Houston has been playing.
Here are the picks of 27 so-called experts at ESPN: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24821394/expert-picks-2018-mlb-postseason
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How I hope it goes:
AL WC: A's over Yankees
ALDS: Indians over Astros in 4, Red Sox over A's in 4.
ALCS: Indians over Red Sox in 6.
NL WC: Rockies over Cubs
NLDS: Dodgers over Braves in 3, Brewers over Rockies in 6.
NLCS: Dodgers over Brewers in 7.
WS: Indians over Dodgers in 6.
How it will likely go:
AL WC: Yankees over A's
ALDS: Astros over Indians in 5, Red Sox over Yankees in 5
ALCS: Astros over Red Sox in 6
NL WC: Cubs over Rockies
NLDS: Cubs over Brewers in 5, Dodgers over Braves in 4
NLCS: Cubs over Dodgers in 7
WS: Astros over Cubs in 7.
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I think the WS winner is in the American League. All of the teams have some sort of team or league record, whether the Yankees setting the team home run record, the Indians having four starters over 200 K's, or the Astros sporting the best run differential and the most strike outs by a pitching staff, the Red Sox setting a new franchise record for wins. The AL is going to be a blood bath. The NL teams all have some sort of flaw that, unless one of them catches lightning in a bottle, I don't see any of those teams beating whoever comes out of the American League.
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Who I think Will win....
Cleveland beats Houston
Boston beats NY
Boston beats Cleveland
Boston beats Milwaukee
That's be great! Honestly I'd love to see Francona win a WS, but no one is beating Houston.
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I am old enough to remember that Game 1 of the World Series would have been starting tonight in the 60s, and then BOTH LCS starting on this date starting in '69. Great baseball weather. Now, it won't be until October 12th before the NLCS starts, the 23rd for the WS. By that time, my interest will have greatly diminished.
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And the Cubs are out. Rock on!
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Best case scenario..
Cubs lose, and Lester pitches great.
I wish it were set up so that the Rockies and Brewers could meet in the NLCS.
The Dodgers are going to roll the Braves.
The A's are throwing a f'n Bullpen Game tonight! I don't know whether to :lol, :clap:, or :facepalm:
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the Cubs having to watch another team celebrate on their field in back to back games was glorious.
go Brewers!
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the Cubs having to watch another team celebrate on their field in back to back games was glorious.
go Brewers!
Indeed. May the Brewers and Indians meet in the WS and wreck MLB's post-season dreams.
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LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!! *clap clap clapclapclap*
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LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!! *clap clap clapclapclap*
I have to say.. for tonight's game... I agree.
Gotta go with the lesser of the evils.
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That was a pretty great game last night! I'm not sure the Rockies staff has ever pitched that well.
I only wish Arenado hadn't "submitted" to Baez's hug and had made an effort to throw out Contreras at first. Couldn't make much of a case for interference by Baez when Arenado basically acquiesced to the on-field bro hug.
I'm still worried about the prospect of a Dodgers v. Rockies NLCS and the Dodgers having to go with a 24-man roster for the games in Denver if Jansen can't play in those games.
Tonight: go A's!
I am old enough to remember that Game 1 of the World Series would have been starting tonight in the 60s, and then BOTH LCS starting on this date starting in '69. Great baseball weather. Now, it won't be until October 12th before the NLCS starts, the 23rd for the WS. By that time, my interest will have greatly diminished.
My first recollection of watching baseball is watching the 1974 WS with my father. I first really followed baseball in 1975. We used to get the afternoon edition of the local newspaper, and I remember that the first thing I'd do when I got home was check the baseball scores and standings -- ultimately to see how many games the Reds were going to win. I remember kids sneaking transistor radios in school and word getting out at lunch about LCS scores.
The extra round(s) of playoffs push back the start date of the WS. I don't so much have a problem with that as I do the start times of games. Doesn't affect me too much on the west coast, but I have to wonder when the last time a kid under the age of 12 in the eastern time zone saw the end of an LCS or WS game.
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"Sources" have Joe Maddon coming back next year for the Cubs.
"Sources" have the Buck stopping in Baltimore.
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"Sources" have Joe Maddon coming back next year for the Cubs.
Unless he decides to retire, why wouldn't he come back? It would be absurd to replace him. In the four years that Maddon has managed them, the Cubs have averaged nearly 97 wins per seasons, which is the best run in team history since the team averaged 106 wins from 1906-1910.
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(https://i.redd.it/hn69rjm9pzp11.jpg)
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I am old enough to remember that Game 1 of the World Series would have been starting tonight in the 60s, and then BOTH LCS starting on this date starting in '69. Great baseball weather. Now, it won't be until October 12th before the NLCS starts, the 23rd for the WS. By that time, my interest will have greatly diminished.
My first recollection of watching baseball is watching the 1974 WS with my father. I first really followed baseball in 1975. We used to get the afternoon edition of the local newspaper, and I remember that the first thing I'd do when I got home was check the baseball scores and standings -- ultimately to see how many games the Reds were going to win. I remember kids sneaking transistor radios in school and word getting out at lunch about LCS scores.
The extra round(s) of playoffs push back the start date of the WS. I don't so much have a problem with that as I do the start times of games. Doesn't affect me too much on the west coast, but I have to wonder when the last time a kid under the age of 12 in the eastern time zone saw the end of an LCS or WS game.
Cool story about the Reds. I recall falling asleep late in the top of the 10th inning in the '75 WS Game 6 (the Fisk HR 'walk off'), waking up to snow on the screen (remember that, guys?), and heading to bed having to wait until I woke up to go to school to find out who won.
(When the Tigers won in '68, the nuns were nice enough to have the TV on with the volume muted. Instead of taking the bus when school let out on the days of Game 6 and 7, I walked to my Grandma's to see the last couple of innings).
Last night....obviously I couldn't stay up for 13 innings. As is, I checked in at times, but the start of the 8th of a 1-1 tie didn't start until around 1050 pm EST. I wish they'd start the night games at 715.....so what if some on the West Coast miss the beginning, look how many out here miss the end.
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waking up to snow on the screen (remember that, guys?)
I remember that. The snow was preceded by the National Anthem. An amazing experience that our young friends will never get to experience.
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Damn, the A's have had their chances.
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(https://i.redd.it/hn69rjm9pzp11.jpg)
<3
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ALL RISE!
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I am old enough to remember that Game 1 of the World Series would have been starting tonight in the 60s, and then BOTH LCS starting on this date starting in '69. Great baseball weather. Now, it won't be until October 12th before the NLCS starts, the 23rd for the WS. By that time, my interest will have greatly diminished.
My first recollection of watching baseball is watching the 1974 WS with my father. I first really followed baseball in 1975. We used to get the afternoon edition of the local newspaper, and I remember that the first thing I'd do when I got home was check the baseball scores and standings -- ultimately to see how many games the Reds were going to win. I remember kids sneaking transistor radios in school and word getting out at lunch about LCS scores.
The extra round(s) of playoffs push back the start date of the WS. I don't so much have a problem with that as I do the start times of games. Doesn't affect me too much on the west coast, but I have to wonder when the last time a kid under the age of 12 in the eastern time zone saw the end of an LCS or WS game.
Cool story about the Reds. I recall falling asleep late in the top of the 10th inning in the '75 WS Game 6 (the Fisk HR 'walk off'), waking up to snow on the screen (remember that, guys?), and heading to bed having to wait until I woke up to go to school to find out who won.
That's painful! Being on the west coast all my life, we get the benefit of being able to stay awake for just about all of these games. Whenever I travel to the east coast and have to deal with Dodgers and Kings games starting at 10-10:30 eastern time, I become very thankful that my wife's and my plan to move to the east coast a while back never panned out.
Last night....obviously I couldn't stay up for 13 innings. As is, I checked in at times, but the start of the 8th of a 1-1 tie didn't start until around 1050 pm EST. I wish they'd start the night games at 715.....so what if some on the West Coast miss the beginning, look how many out here miss the end.
YES! I'd much rather miss an inning or two at the start of the game than the end of it.
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Ryan Braun WTF?? :facepalm:
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Ryan Braun is a 1st Class A-Hole. He alone makes rooting for the Brewers difficult.
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As far as I'm concerned, he makes rooting for them impossible.
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this is making me age faster than I need to.
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MOOSE!
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Ryan Braun WTF?? :facepalm:
Que???
Dodgers fired on all cylinders last night! Ryu was lights out. Braves couldn't touch him. Joc Pederson with ANOTHER leadoff homer. Max "Who the Fuck Is This Guy" Muncy with a 3-run jack (after 35 in the regular season). And Kiké Hernandez piled on with a solo shot. And we get Clayton Kershaw on the mound tonight and Walker Buehler on Sunday.
Four games today....unfortunately, I probably won't get to watch any of them.
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Four games today....unfortunately, I probably won't get to watch any of them.
That was my situation for the past two years because we basically 'cut the cord' to save around $120 a month in cable fees. This past summer we worked some things out, so that we have more stations at ten bucks less than we were paying then.
Sadly, ESPN, TNT, TBS, FS1 and MLB are not on basic cable programming anymore. None of these are available to many of those who are baseball fans (ie., the elderly, who have more important needs to spend their limited funds on). Hell, the local Balto CBS station, who carried the O's since Day One in '54, no longer carry games on air (they were down to only 20 the past few seasons). FOX only carries a handful of Saturday regional games. I chuckle at the commissioner talking about getting more inner city youths involved in baseball, when most don't have access to any games at all.
They could fix some of this by carrying games on the extra over the air stations. That wouldn't interfere with regular network programming. Then all you need is an indoor antennae, and a digital converter box that costs about five bucks.
That said, it was nice to tune in for an inning or two and watch the master Verlander pitch in blue and orange (oops, those are Astros, and not Tiger uniforms).
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Brewers pitching on full display so far. Hopefully the steal one in Colorado.
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Dodgers should handle game 3 nicely. Bring on round 2!
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David Price...yoooooouuuuuuuu suuuuuucccckkkkk!
GTFO!
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Not worth the PRICE Boston paid him
Joe Kelly putting on a clinic though
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Dodgers should handle game 3 nicely. Bring on round 2!
I didn't think Kershaw could top what Ryu did in game 1. That was impressive! And nice to see Jansen pitch a clean inning (other than the harmless single).
I'm starting to hate the Astros the same way I hated the Braves and Yankees in the 90s/early 2000s.
Price was BAD! They made the right decision to pull him early.
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Not worth the PRICE Boston paid him
Joe Kelly putting on a clinic though
Kelly practically pitched his way OFF the playoff roster.
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David Price...yoooooouuuuuuuu suuuuuucccckkkkk!
GTFO!
Yup, SHOCKED he got knocked out in the 2nd inning ::) Only thing more sure than Price choking is the sun coming up.
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A friend bet the over in tonight's game simply because Price was pitching and he was counting on a lot of runs. He was bummed that he was pulled so early. :lol
Over/Under is 9, so he needs one more run for a push and two more for the win (6-2 in top of the 8th).
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Brewers with the...
(https://media.giphy.com/media/9JwVhYXf5IqGvkkWhZ/giphy.gif)
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Is there room on the Brewers' bandwagon? The Tribe's season is going to end today and I want to get in before it gets too crowded.
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Damn, Clevinger unraveling in real time. Ugh.
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Buehler had one bad inning, and it killed the possibility of a sweep for the Dodgers. Need to finish the job tonight, and then we'll see what Roberts does with the pitching staff. Brewers will get games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee, so Dave may pitch Kershaw and Buehler in games 1 and 2 (Friday and Saturday) and hold Ryu until game 3 at Dodger Stadium (next Monday). If we have to play a game 5 against the Braves on Wednesday, then that limits our options. Rich Hill needs to step up tonight, and our batters need to figure out how to get runs home when we have someone on second with no outs.
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I may have spoken too soon. Frankie Lindor coming through!!
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Is there room on the Brewers' bandwagon? The Tribe's season is going to end today and I want to get in before it gets too crowded.
I rooted for the Tribe against the Cubs, so yes, feel free to jump on if necessary.
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Buehler had one bad inning, and it killed the possibility of a sweep for the Dodgers. Need to finish the job tonight, and then we'll see what Roberts does with the pitching staff. Brewers will get games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee, so Dave may pitch Kershaw and Buehler in games 1 and 2 (Friday and Saturday) and hold Ryu until game 3 at Dodger Stadium (next Monday). If we have to play a game 5 against the Braves on Wednesday, then that limits our options. Rich Hill needs to step up tonight, and our batters need to figure out how to get runs home when we have someone on second with no outs.
I hope it goes 5.
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Put a fork in the Indians. They are done. Francona galaxy brained himself with the bullpen AGAIN.
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You know, I really think the Astros are going to repeat.
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You know, I really think the Astros are going to repeat.
I didn't think it was ever in doubt.
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Buehler had one bad inning, and it killed the possibility of a sweep for the Dodgers. Need to finish the job tonight, and then we'll see what Roberts does with the pitching staff. Brewers will get games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee, so Dave may pitch Kershaw and Buehler in games 1 and 2 (Friday and Saturday) and hold Ryu until game 3 at Dodger Stadium (next Monday). If we have to play a game 5 against the Braves on Wednesday, then that limits our options. Rich Hill needs to step up tonight, and our batters need to figure out how to get runs home when we have someone on second with no outs.
I hope it goes 5.
That's how I felt about the Brewers v. Rockies series....
Hating the Astros even more.
As I type this, the Dodgers have runners on first and second with nobody out. Next three batters are Machado, Grandal and Hernandez. I'm not sure what's more likely: three consecutive strikeouts or a three-run homer.
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Somewhat to my surprise, MACHADO WITH THE THREE RUN DINGER!!!! Dodgers up 6-2 in the top of the 7th with no one out still. Take your tomahawks and shove 'em where the sun don't shine!
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BYE BYE BRAVES!
Looking forward to the NLCS starting on Friday.
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Save some for tomorrow boys!
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The Sox are up 10-1. With their bullpen, they'll squeak out a 10-9 win.
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The Sox are up 10-1. With their bullpen, they'll squeak out a 10-9 win.
Technically, according to the save rule, Price could pitch the last 3 innings and allow 8 runs and get a Save.
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The Sox are up 10-1. With their bullpen, they'll squeak out a 10-9 win.
Technically, according to the save rule, Price could pitch the last 3 innings and allow 8 runs and get a Save.
His dog, Astro has a better chance to get that save.
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Hey Alex Bregman: SHUT THE FUCK UP! I really hope the Sox sweep the Astros with four shutouts. Hell, I might even root for the Yankees if the make it.
Also, DODGERS WIN!!! Bring on the Brewers!
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Hey Alex Bregman: SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Lol... for what? Having a chip on his shoulder. Dude has every right.
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Alex Cora is not coaching like a rookie coach.
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Alex Cora is not coaching like a rookie coach.
That's because he's a Manager! ;D
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Stop it.
He's a skipper. Also, I know you agree.
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3 more outs motherfuckers!
Judge
Gregorious
Stanton
Yikes!!
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Walk. Heart Attack time.
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Kimbrall, WTF??
Where's David Price?
wait, wut?
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Stanton is going to belt a 3 run shot.
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Nope. Still, heart attack drama.
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Voit's going to belt a 3 run HR.
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Should have left Sale in :facepalm:
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Walk. Jesus. THROW STRIKES!
Should have left Sale in :facepalm:
It feels like they should.
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Grand slam walk off.
Motherfucker. seriously, where's Price?
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You've got to be kidding me.
Walk, walk, hits batman. All his fault.
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Jesus. Heart attack time.
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Kimbrel taking choking lessons from Price.
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Game over. Holy cow.
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Nuńez!!!! Oh what a play.
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(https://i.imgflip.com/cw40j.jpg?a427464)
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Holy shit what an inning!
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A couple thoughts I had last night...
The Yankees need to improve their outfield defense.
Gardner badly misplays Kinsler's double in the third, and Judge did the same with Vasquez' homer. They were both catchable balls.
And STFU CC. Love Porcello's response.
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I missed that. What did Porcello say?
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I missed that. What did Porcello say?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/rick-porcello-blasts-cc-sabathia-after-yankees-pitcher-criticizes-angel-hernandez/ar-BBOaFvM?li=BBnb7Kz
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I missed that. What did Porcello say?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/rick-porcello-blasts-cc-sabathia-after-yankees-pitcher-criticizes-angel-hernandez/ar-BBOaFvM?li=BBnb7Kz
Interesting. Thanks Tim.
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First off, congrats to the Red Sox and their fans. I hate the Sox with every ounce of my soul, but the better team won. Plain and simple.
However...
And STFU CC. Love Porcello's response.
How about STFU Porcello instead. He pitched well, and got a ton of calls that he shouldn't have. That's baseball. CC is dead on (as is Pedro, notice Porcello won't dare challenge a Red Sox legend) in his assessment of Angel Hernandez. He makes Joe West look like the God of Umpires. CC should be pissed. One pitch, low in the zone is called a strike. The next pitch in the exact same location, it is a ball. Hernandez has absolutely NO consistency whatsoever, which makes it hard for all pitchers to navigate how far they have in all directions. Replay the same game today, Porcello might change his tune, as the majority of the calls went his way yesterday.
Solid year for the Yankees. 100 wins in a year I personally really didn't think they'd be all that successful in. They need some improvement in the starting rotation, and better defense up the middle. (I am not worried about Judge or Gardner -- the latter of whom won't be on the team next year. Gardner is a former gold glove winner and a stellar defender, and Judge will win a GG at some point soon as well.) I hate losing to the damn Red Sox, bunch of whiny sh*ts that need to be punched in the mouth. But then again, they think the same about the Yanks, so it all evens out. :lol
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How about STFU Porcello instead. He pitched well, and got a ton of calls that he shouldn't have. That's baseball. CC is dead on (as is Pedro, notice Porcello won't dare challenge a Red Sox legend) in his assessment of Angel Hernandez. He makes Joe West look like the God of Umpires. CC should be pissed. One pitch, low in the zone is called a strike. The next pitch in the exact same location, it is a ball. Hernandez has absolutely NO consistency whatsoever, which makes it hard for all pitchers to navigate how far they have in all directions. Replay the same game today, Porcello might change his tune, as the majority of the calls went his way yesterday.
Huh, I thought Hernandez was really a non factor. I mean not every pitcher is going to get every call they want. If anything, I thought the Yankees got the edge on close calls. But I wouldn't even want to overstate that. But even the MLB Tonight crew thought the same.
Pedro's comments about Hernandez were the night before the game. I didn't hear anything from Pedro speaking about this game.
CC's a big boy. I'm surprised he went there. Sure, Hernandez has a brutal reputation, but I thought it was weak from CC to basically pile on.
You call poor winner on Porcello. I won't argue that.
Solid year for the Yankees. 100 wins in a year I personally really didn't think they'd be all that successful in. They need some improvement in the starting rotation, and better defense up the middle. (I am not worried about Judge or Gardner -- the latter of whom won't be on the team next year. Gardner is a former gold glove winner and a stellar defender, and Judge will win a GG at some point soon as well.) I hate losing to the damn Red Sox, bunch of whiny sh*ts that need to be punched in the mouth. But then again, they think the same about the Yanks, so it all evens out. :lol
I wouldn't get too jacked over the 100 wins, just as the Sox' 108 is just as inflated. If anything, the Yanks' lack of focus throughout the year probably cost them Home Field. Sure losing Judge hurt big time, but Girardi would've had Games 1&2 in NY. I believe that.
I mentioned Gardner and Judge defensively because both of those balls were catchable, and frankly at this level, should have been made. I love Brett Gardner. I am on record as saying that guy is sneakily one of their most important players. He watched them give Ellsbury a shit ton of money to do the same thing as him.
Losing Hicks was HUUUUUGE in this series. That hurt.
The good news....This should be good over the next 6-8 seasons.
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The Rivalry will indeed be good.
Agreed on Gardy, but he's gone after this year. The Yanks still have one year with Ellsbury, but I doubt he's ever going to play. Maybe they can buy him out.
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I didn't see much of the game last night, but Angel Hernandez is one of the worst -- if not THE worst -- umpire in MLB today (only C.B. Bucknor gives Hernandez a run for his money). He actually has a lawsuit pending against MLB, in which he claims that his national origin and/or age are the reasons why he hasn't been made a crew chief. LOL!
If the Kimbrel is prone to meltdowns like that, then a Dodgers v. Red Sox World Series could be awfully interesting!
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Brewers games =big tits behind home plate!
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Brewers games =big tits behind home plate!
She is known as Front Row Amy.
Also, how about Brewers reliever Brandon Woodruff hitting a HR off Kershaw. It is destiny.
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That was amazing.
What was also amazing was that the ump picked up on that Catcher's Interference on the line out to Freese. That was inning changing.
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Chris Sale pitching scared tonight. THROW STRIKES!!!!
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Chris Sale pitching scared tonight. THROW STRIKES!!!!
He doesn’t have anything.
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Fucking Joe Kelly. Sox just tie the game and you hit Bregman on purpose to lead off the inning???
He's gonna score the go ahead run.
EDIT: :censored
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Workman choked. No surprise.
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Astros are the champs for a reason. Good luck. :P
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So well balanced as a team.
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I hope they beat the snot out of each other like they always do.
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Red Sox need to win tonight to avoid going down 0-2 at home...and David Price is pitching. :eek :eek :lol :lol
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I'm extremely confident in David Price.
Said no one ever.
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Earth to Mookie:"The playoffs have started!"
Bregman was a vacuum cleaner last night.
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Betts is hurting his next contract.
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Price being Price....
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Price being Price....
I just turned it on. For some reason I was thinking it was an 8:00 start. :facepalm:
When you score two runs to go up against Houston, you simply cannot give it back the next half inning.
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Alex Cora, whatever you do, DO NOT send Price out for the 4th!
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He has to. Sale only went 4 in game 1.
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In most cities when an opposing player crashes into the outfield wall and is down for several minutes and appears hurt, he gets a respectful applause if/when he gets up and appears to be okay.
Except in Boston (and Philly).
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He was fine. Boston has long shown respect for other players. It's not like he was injured. He played the wall like an ass and got shook up. BFD.
Stop trying to create drama. :natalieportman:
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Just calling it like I see it. When he got up, I was stunned at the silence from the crowd. I guess I shouldn't have been.
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But nothing happened though. He was fine. If he broke a leg or something, he would've certainly been cheered. And to cut you off....not the way you think. :lol
He banged against the wall, sat on his ass, and then got up. Like I said, BFD.
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Kimbrell WTF??
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Kimbrell WTF??
Heart attack every time he pitches in the playoffs.
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Heart attack moments in the ninth are what I love most about MLB playoffs!
Last night while we were watching, Mrs P says, "I'd really like to know what's up with Kimbrel's sweep-the-leg pose!"
:rollin
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I wish Cora had the balls to send Porcello out for the ninth. Send a very clear message to Kimbrel.
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Especially after his performance in the 8th! :omg:
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Heart attack moments in the ninth are what I love most about MLB playoffs!
Last night while we were watching, Mrs P says, "I'd really like to know what's up with Kimbrel's sweep-the-leg pose!"
:rollin
:lol
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Random thought...
My wife (casual Red Sox fan) asked me after the game last night why David Price didn't get credit for the win. I explained that a starter has to go at least 5 innings to get the win. She said that's stupid, and I said that's been the rule forever.
But I have to agree that it's kind of a stupid rule. A reliever can get credited with a win no matter how many or few innings he pitches, so why impose this arbitrary minimum on only the starter?
I suppose this is pissing in the wind since to change the rule at this point in history would screw up a lot of statistical analysis, but it does seem fundamentally flawed.
Also, GO DODGERS!!! Big game tonight. Hopefully Buehler bounces back from his crappy outing against Atlanta and that our hitters wake up.
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Random thought...
My wife (casual Red Sox fan) asked me after the game last night why David Price didn't get credit for the win. I explained that a starter has to go at least 5 innings to get the win. She said that's stupid, and I said that's been the rule forever.
But I have to agree that it's kind of a stupid rule. A reliever can get credited with a win no matter how many or few innings he pitches, so why impose this arbitrary minimum on only the starter?
I suppose this is pissing in the wind since to change the rule at this point in history would screw up a lot of statistical analysis, but it does seem fundamentally flawed.
Also, GO DODGERS!!! Big game tonight. Hopefully Buehler bounces back from his crappy outing against Atlanta and that our hitters wake up.
Especially in this era of bullpen usage, the rule should be tweaked. MLB is always very slow to change.
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Wow, the Dodgers' catcher blows.
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Wow, the Dodgers' catcher blows.
yes, and I like it.
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I dunno what's with Dodger hitters turning ice cold in the playoffs. They could have won the WS last year if they hadn't stopped hitting in game 7. Some of them have terrible plate discipline.
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I dunno what's with Dodger hitters turning ice cold in the playoffs. They could have won the WS last year if they hadn't stopped hitting in game 7. Some of them have terrible plate discipline.
maybe the other teams pitching is pretty good. ;)
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I dunno what's with Dodger hitters turning ice cold in the playoffs. They could have won the WS last year if they hadn't stopped hitting in game 7. Some of them have terrible plate discipline.
It's as though every bad tendency they have comes together in the playoffs. Puig has shown incredible plate discipline the last two regular seasons, but he flails at the sliders away during the postseason. Bellinger and Grandal are strikeout or homer every at-bat. At least Bellinger can occasionally hit a ball the other way or lay down a bunt (as Yelich did yesterday). Grandal doesn't grasp the concept of "just make contact, and he seems to have a terrible understanding of the strike zone as a hitter. I can't tell you how many call third strikes I saw him take where he argued with the umpire about pitches that were unquestionably strikes.
Add to that the fact that Grandal is a catcher who can't seem to catch the baseball, and I am so done with him.
Dodgers have struck out 32 times in the 3 games in this series -- 27 strikeouts in the two games they lost. They're hitting .235 in the series. Amazingly, their batting average with RISP is actually better (4 for 20), but they were 0 for 10 last night.
I dunno what's with Dodger hitters turning ice cold in the playoffs. They could have won the WS last year if they hadn't stopped hitting in game 7. Some of them have terrible plate discipline.
maybe the other teams pitching is pretty good. ;)
I'd say it's more of a matter of the other team's manager and pitching coach understanding how to exploit the Dodgers' weaknesses. Smart managers and coaches figure this stuff out, and the Dodgers have had a terrible tendency over the past couple years to make scrubs (no offense, but how else can you describe Jhoulys Chacin) look like Cy Young Award winners. Plus, the Dodgers supposed strength -- starting pitching -- has let the team down.
I'm not usually one to say fire the manager, but I kinda think it's time. The approach that Roberts, Honeycutt and Ward have used just isn't working, and guys like Craig Counsell, AJ Hinch and Alex Cora can coach circles around them.
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Nunez sucks. Cora needs to play Devers and Holt every game.
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Nunez sucks. Cora needs to play Devers and Holt every game.
I wouldn't say Nunez sucks, but I agree that Devers and Holt should definitely be playing, at least against righties. Kinsler has killed them at the plate.
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I take that back :facepalm:
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:lol
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J-B-J
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Holy Toledo!!
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Is there a nicer guy in sports than Jim Thome?
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this Brewers/Dodgers game is something else.
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this Brewers/Dodgers game is something else.
If by "something else," you mean a demonstration of everything wrong with today's players' approach to hitting, I agree. The two teams were a combined 15 for 90 at the plate (.167). And I don't for a minute buy into the narrative that it was just great work by the two bullpens. This is one of those "a win's a win" type games.
And, by the way, I don't think what Machado did at first base was dirty, but it sure as heck was douchy. I really hope the Dodgers don't sign him in the off season.
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Well, well, well....look what team finally figured out how to hit with runners on base!
GO DODGERS!
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Well, well, well....look what team finally figured out how to hit with runners on base!
GO DODGERS!
Brewers bats are cold. They had a golden opportunity in the third and got nothing. hopefully home cooking brings two wins!
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Fan interference or not DTF?
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Need side angle to determine.
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Horrendous call. The fan did not reach into the field of play, therefore it should not have been interference.
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Horrendous call. The fan did not reach into the field of play, therefore it should not have been interference.
I didn't even need to click the thread to know your response.
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With these great fields they build these days we are bound to get these tough calls.
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Even if his glove is technically over the yellow line, the fan still cannot swat his glove away from the ball.
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This is too close to call really.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/923/wgM56v.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pnwgM56vj)
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What the heck is JD doing?? Took 2 fastballs right down the middle. He’s been cold this postseason.
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Horrendous call. The fan did not reach into the field of play, therefore it should not have been interference.
I didn't even need to click the thread to know your response.
Makes sense, since you know I call it like I see it and the way it is. :tup :tup
Even if his glove is technically over the yellow line, the fan still cannot swat his glove away from the ball.
Okay, but considering the fan did not do that, what does that have to do with this particular play?
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Apparently Kev did some modeling when he was in college. I found an old catalog pic:
(https://i3.cpcache.com/product/376727608/I_Hate_Boston_Dark_T-Shirt_300x300.jpg?height=300&width=300&qv=90&side=front)
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Well, well, well....look what team finally figured out how to hit with runners on base!
GO DODGERS!
And look who's star pitcher is back to his old self! I feel good about this series now.
Re: the Machado incident....yes he shouldn't have dragged his foot, but in a normal throw to first, the first baseman's FOOT WOULD NOT BE THERE TO KICK, DUMBASS! >:( Step on the bag, catch the ball, walk away. Aguilar DELIBERATELY stood there! They're both at fault imo.
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Kershaw now holds the record for most postseason starts of at least 7 innings and 3 or fewer hits . . .
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Horrendous call. The fan did not reach into the field of play, therefore it should not have been interference.
Was there fan interference? Yes.....but not in the field of play. So it should have been a HR. But, I'm sure Joe West got his stupid two cents in.....
People in Baltimore will now have to watch this play again a couple of times over the next couple of days
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVNlvnsQ828
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Orioles got so screwed on that.
Astros...not so much.
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Bummer for MLB that the Red Sox won that game. Had the Astros won it, it would have been an afterthought that didn't have any real impact on the outcome of the series. Now, it is tainted. Not a good look for baseball.
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You really think that Kev or are you just pulling TAC and King's weenie? As a non partisan sports watcher, I think they got the call right. King's photo above illustrates how close it really was...and the fan's need to let the players play.
A really fun game to watch.
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For Kev, I'm sure it's both.
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This is too close to call really.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/923/wgM56v.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pnwgM56vj)
I agree. It is too close to call.
Mookie's body is still a foot away from the wall. I mean, the fan's fands are in front of Mookie. They are both extending. If Mookie is clearly in the fan's space, then the fans are clearly in Mookie's space. These fans are not sitting back. They are reaching forward.
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Starting Price on short rest is not a good idea.
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Starting Price on short rest is not a good idea.
Up 3-1 it's really their only choice.
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No way can Cora trust Kimbrel anymore.
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Fan interference or not DTF?
Seemed pretty clear to me that one or more of the fans reached over the wall and made contact with the outfielder's glove before the ball came down. It would really be nice if folks who are fortunate enough to have front row seats on the field level would learn the rules.
By the way, Alex "Prime Time" Bregman is hitting .182 in this series.
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You really think that Kev or are you just pulling TAC and King's weenie? As a non partisan sports watcher, I think they got the call right. King's photo above illustrates how close it really was...and the fan's need to let the players play.
A really fun game to watch.
It is easy to say, "fans need to let the players play," but going for a ball hit over the wall is a natural human instinct. It's just too bad that the outfielder extended his glove over the wall and made contact, thereby putting the ump in a tough position where he almost had to call interference, even if it was the incorrect call.
For the life of me, I don't get why ballparks still have seats that close to the wall to where something like this could happen.
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I look at that picture and I see Betts glove on the yellow line as well as the fans. That is going to be a judgement call that can go both ways. I can't be mad either way because it is a judgement call with all things looking equal. This was a tough call to make.
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Judgment call indeed. Not a blatant wrong call like in 1996.
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Let’s assume for the sake of argument that I agree it was a tough/judgement call. If it was that close, then the burden should be to prove interference. If it’s so close that you can’t tell, you have to go with no interference.
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Let’s assume for the sake of argument that I agree it was a tough/judgement call. If it was that close, then the burden should be to prove interference. If it’s so close that you can’t tell, you have to go with no interference.
It works just like football. The call stands and then they base the replay off of...
1. Called Interference .... Was it interference?
2. Called a Home Run .... Was there any proof that the player was interfered or not.
I'm with you Kev. Short stands with fans on the edge always cause problems with calls.
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I love how classy the Astro's manager (?) was in the post game interview when asked if he was upset. He basically said it is what it is, and he doesn't think it affected the outcome of the game in the end.
Also, I believe they made the correct call, and not because I am a Red Sox fan :lol
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The more I think about it, the real question is: why is Joe West still working playoff games? No disrespect, but there is no way that guy is in shape, and watching the replay again, you can see him moving as fast as he can (see: not fast) to get in view, but was still a far distance from the play when it happened, so there is no way he got a good view of it, yet he called it an out in real time and basically stopped the play? That is terrible umping. He should have let it play out and then let the review determine whether there was interference or not (there wasn't).
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Kev, look at this pic!
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/922/IFHWXd.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pmIFHWXdj)
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Still photos rarely tell the tale, especially they can be manipulated (like in that one, where it makes it look like West is much closer to the play than he really was).
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Kev, put these on.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31y-Eyj06XL._SX466_.jpg)
You'll see it much clearer.
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I'm not saying he's close at all. I thought is was a awesome catch by the Boston photographer.
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Good thing that wasn't in the 8th inning or he would have missed it since he was already down to 42% in the bottom of the 1st. :lol :lol
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Nathan Eovaldi in. Should have had Price go 7.
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Nathan Eovaldi in. Should have had Price go 7.
Yup!
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One inning with a reliever ready. It's the goddamn playoffs.
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He’s not seriously thinking of using Kmbrel in the 9th? I mean . . . :o
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Yes he is.
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Hopefully Kelly was just warming up in case there was real trouble. Eovaldi has to pitch the 9th.
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Kimbrell's warming up?? Are you fucking kidding me??
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No surprise really. He is the closer.
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I may be watching the Bruins for the next 15 minutes!
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(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/922/Mu7jpw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pmMu7jpwj)
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:lol
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WOOOOOTTTT!!!
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Great grab by Benintendi :metal
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An asterisk free win! It was fun seeing Betts get a very similar ball hit at him (although not as close to going over the wall) and to see the fans lean back away from the play. :lol Good for them! Astros fans seem like a pretty good lot. It was kinda sad to see their team play scared last night, but who could blame them.
GG to Price, Devers, J.D. and Benintendi. Oh, and even Kimbrel! :lol
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(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/922/Mu7jpw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/pmMu7jpwj)
Maybe 7 more games of it . . .
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For sure. :lol
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Any truth to the rumor that Joe West will be receiving a commemorative ALCS ring? ;)
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Any truth to the rumor that Joe West will be receiving a commemorative ALCS ring? ;)
Salty! :lol
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Hey Alex Bregman: SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Lol... for what? Having a chip on his shoulder. Dude has every right.
To answer the question: because he couldn't put his money where his big mouth was.
"Mr. Prime Time" went 2/15 (.133) in the ALCS.
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Game 7's are more fun when your team isn't in them.
I'll be a wreck the whole game.
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I was afraid of this, Brewers with rested pitching. And I don't understand what happened to Ryu tonight, that should not have happened. Back to being nervous now.
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Hey Alex Bregman: SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Lol... for what? Having a chip on his shoulder. Dude has every right.
To answer the question: because he couldn't put his money where his big mouth was.
"Mr. Prime Time" went 2/15 (.133) in the ALCS.
So no legit answer? Got it.
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GAME SEVEN BOYS
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Taylor's catch followed by Puigs HR was horrible gut punch to say the least.
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That was a great catch, but it would've been a lot easier had he taken the correct angle to the ball.
I was rooting for the Brewers!
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Game 1 tonight! Kershaw v. Sale!
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Not sure how healthy Sale is. Tonight we find out!
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I'll watch from about 815 to 9pm EST.
As always, I want to watch the game, but.....I have to work in the morning. I'll look at the highlights then. Also, I won't have to put up with A-roid and Pete Rosebettor afterwards, nor the 6-10 camera angle changes run by the squirrel director between every frickin pitch past the 5th inning.
And...'The Boys of Summer' will be playing in 45 degree weather....at least for tonight. Nothing like seeing sky masks on the players.
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I'm rooting for the infield dirt to trip up Machado so he does a face plant. Other than that, baseball resumes in February down in Tampa. Go Yankees! Work on that golf game boys.
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1st response is gold I tell ya! Gold!
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/921/rkuTfw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/plrkuTfwj)
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Yeah, gender fluid Sigourney Weaver.
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Fuck the Dodgers. That's my only sentiment in this one. It's Fuck the Dodgers-1, Dodgers-0 in this series so far.
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1st response is gold I tell ya! Gold!
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/750x500q90/921/rkuTfw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/f/plrkuTfwj)
He looks more like Wormtongue!
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Fuck the Dodgers. That's my only sentiment in this one. It's Fuck the Dodgers-1, Dodgers-0 in this series so far.
You'll be happy to hear I'm wearing my Giants t shirt I bought in SF for the series. ;D
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I have to say that the Fox studio show is the worst thing in sports I've ever seen. The host blows, Ortiz acts like a complete jack ass, and A-Rob...does he f'n ever say anything? I wish he spent more time researching his data than he does in the makeup chair. He's useless.
I feel bad for Frank Thomas. I really do.
I must say, Pedro Martinez is excellent on MLB Network post game. Really insightful.
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I don't watch the pre and post game coverage. I will say that I really enjoyed John Smoltz during the coverage. He was insightful and entertaining. Joe Buck has that classic baseball announcer voice but...I don't know...he sometimes rubs me the wrong way. Kevin Harlan would be so much more fun if Fox were to hire him.
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I like John Smoltz. I have never had an issue with Joe Buck. He's fine. As long as I don't have to WATCH him speak.
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No, that whole Fox analyst team sucks, INCLUDING Pedro.
A-Rod is a moron. I wish on the ESPN broadcasts, they'd just have the play-by-play guy and Jessica Mendoza do color commentary. She, IMO, is the best color analyst in the game. A-Roid just yaps to yap.
And go infield dirt, don't let me down game 2.
F Boston.
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She, IMO, is the best color analyst in the game.
WUT?
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Never got the hate for Joe Buck. He does a good job both in baseball and football. He isn't the best, but I think he's far from the worst.
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She, IMO, is the best color analyst in the game.
WUT?
Yup. And its not because she is easy on the eyes. I think she really has a good feel for the game and enjoy her commentary.
p.s. regarding Joe Buck - he does get a bum rap. I think he's fine, honestly.
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I can't think of too many play-by-play guys I don't like. Joe Buck is good (although he got prematurely excited over a couple foul balls last night). Based on highlights of Yankees games I have hear, I don't really care for their radio guy (John Sterling?). Their TV guy (Michael Kay?) is pretty good. Also really don't like the Indians PBP guy, but that's also only based on highlights I've seen/heard.
The analysts are another story. I think Jessica Mendoza was really good in 2017. However, with Alex Rodriguez replacing Aaron Boone, she's not nearly as good, and Rodriguez is just terrible. Smoltz is the cream of the crop, and I thought Ron Darling was pretty good prior to this year when he started getting very preach with a "know it all" attitude. I like pretty much all of the studio guys on MLB Network. Pedro Martinez is really good.
GO DODGERS!!!
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I am a Yankees die hard - and I CANNOT STAND John Sterling, and that doofus Suzy Waldman. They are HORRIBLE. Sterling's calls are seriously stupid, and Waldman's insight is like getting baseball knowledge from a little leaguer.
SO. BAD.
p.s. agree that Mendoza was better in 2017. A-Roid's presence has made her timid to talk over him, and that's unfortunate. They need to punt A-Roid and just let her do her thing.
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I am a Yankees die hard - and I CANNOT STAND John Sterling, and that doofus Suzy Waldman. They are HORRIBLE. Sterling's calls are seriously stupid, and Waldman's insight is like getting baseball knowledge from a little leaguer.
SO. BAD.
Sam, when you get a chance, you have to listen to this. The night time show on one of the two sports talk radio stations here is hosted by Adam Jones. He and his former co host, Rich Keefe, do a hilarious Sterling/Waldman impersonation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwLMEmwZEiA
This was lifted from the afternoon show discussing the impersonations from the night before. They did this all the time and it's hilarious.
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Holy crap, could Joe Buck have more makeup on? He's not even 50 yet!
Serious question...is he healthy?
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I don't watch a lot of baseball anymore, but Smoltz is fantastic as a color commentator. Very informative, never comes off as condescending, and really dives into the psychology of the game.
I was iffy on Joe Buck for a long time, largely because his calls were too bland (he would call a walkoff HR with the same tone that he would a groundout in the top of the 2nd), but he has gotten a lot better in recent years.
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Worked again!!
(https://i.imgur.com/yHDebUS.jpg)
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Dave Roberts is the embedded Red Sox.
His moves are...curious.
I've watched a ton of Dodgers games late at night. Righty or lefty, how are Bellinger and Pederson not everyday players?
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Dave Roberts is the embedded Red Sox.
His moves are...curious.
I've watched a ton of Dodgers games late at night. Righty or lefty, how are Bellinger and Pederson not everyday players?
Seems to be a different lineup every day, without apparent rhyme or reason, and it is probably the single biggest bone of contention that Dodger fans have with current management (both Roberts and the front office). For a while, both Bellinger and Pederson were in the lineup every day, but now not so much.
I had a friend comment on Facebook last night -- in frustration -- that the Dodgers had 100 home runs on the bench (Bellinger, Muncy, Grandal and Pederson). While that's true (those four players had a combined 109 homers), they had only 19 homers and hit a combined .221 against lefties (as opposed to 90 homers and .264 against righties). Grandal (who, IMO, should not be switch hitting) and Pederson are particularly bad against lefties (combined 5 homers and .194 BA).
The problem is that, except for Turner and Machado, guys never get in a rhythm and don't get the opportunity to play their way through slumps. Turner and Machado are the only guys who pretty much play every day, and I think the natives are getting restless. I'm not sure what the 2019 Dodgers will look like, but I suspect the 2020 Dodgers will look almost nothing like the 2018 version.
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It's gonna take a f'n miracle now. 4 out of 5. Unlikely but not impossible.
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It's gonna take a f'n miracle now. 4 out of 5. Unlikely but not impossible.
Yep...they did it in 1981, but this Red Sox team is way better than the 1981 Yankees.
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Having to play the next 3 under NL rules will be a big equalizer for LA.
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Having to play the next 3 under NL rules will be a big equalizer for LA.
Rick Porcello went 3 for 7 with 2 doubles this year! :lol
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I'm surprised Porcello is coming out. Weird move by Cora
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Pederson took him deep earlier. The move to E-Rod is appropriate.
I'm still amazed Pederson didn't start the first two games. Same for Bellinger.
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This kid is pitching an incredible game.
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Gutsy performance by Nunez.
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Anyone on the east coast still watching this game?! This is insane!
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Anyone on the east coast still watching this game?! This is insane!
I was thinking the saying thing. They're pulling an all nighter for this game.
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Yep....well not any more since Muncy walked it off. What a great story he has been.
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Anyone on the east coast still watching this game?! This is insane!
I couldn't keep my eyes open.
Pederson took him deep earlier. The move to E-Rod is appropriate.
I'm still amazed Pederson didn't start the first two games. Same for Bellinger.
Now he used Nathan Eovaldi. Who is our game 4 starter? Should have left Porcello in dude.
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Kinsler is complete washed-up garbage, single-handedly blew the game and caused the Sox to burn Evoldi.
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The game ended at 330AM EST? Holy crap on a cracker!
Just read that the 7 hours and 20 minutes for Game 3.......more than the combined time it took the Yankees to sweep the Reds in '39
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Anyone on the east coast still watching this game?! This is insane!
I made it until 1:30. I had to work this morning.
When Kinsler threw the ball away and the Dodgers tied it at 2, I had to shut the TV off.
Ridiculous game. Batters 1-4 went 0-28 ?? WTF??
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OUCH!!!
Why on earth was ERod still pitching to Puig??
We have a series, people!
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One batter too much.
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Another 18-inning game on the horizon? :lol :lol
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Can I please go to bed?! :lol
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Can I please go to bed?! :lol
:lol :lol
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Now Tim? Lol
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Nope! :lol
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Lol Dodgers...
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Not a great start by Kimbrell.
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Um....WTF??
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Jesus Kimbrell.
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Judas Kimbrell.
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What a strike by Devers!
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Bed time, old man!
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Ok Bosox, one more win will save me from a year of insufferable shit talk from way too many Dodger fans.... (not that I didn't earn the back talk in '10, '12 and '14 ::) )
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Nice to see Manny is still stomping heels at first base......
On another note, I really like those blue jerseys the Red So have been wearing.
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Ok Bosox, one more win will save me from a year of insufferable shit talk from way too many Dodger fans.... (not that I didn't earn the back talk in '10, '12 and '14 ::) )
Fuck The Dodgers East got you, brother! :metal
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Our bullpen stunk. You guys deserve that one. And Kershaw's probably going to bite it tomorrow, so enjoy.
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Price to start tonight. Sale slated for Game 6 (if necessary)
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Nice to see Manny is still stomping heels at first base......
WTW has been in his head this month? I've lived in Baltimore County for 18 years now, so I've followed the O's, and watched this kid make plays that I don't think anyone could have because of that cannon (and that includes Brooks). So, he steps on the heel of a first baseman again (and former teammate), does the stupid HR trot on a single, and ...lost sight of the ball and didn't look at the 3rd base coach on the bases loaded error that allowed the first run last night.
If I'm a GM thinking of signing him to that expected mammoth contract, sorry 'Johnny no Hustle', but, stock tdwn
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Ok Bosox, one more win will save me from a year of insufferable shit talk from way too many Dodger fans.... (not that I didn't earn the back talk in '10, '12 and '14 ::) )
Fuck The Dodgers East got you, brother! :metal
You redeemed yourself my friend :hearts:
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Fun fact: By the Dodgers forcing a game 5 today, LA will I believe become the first city to have home games for teams in all four major sports on the same day (Dodgers, Rams, Clippers, Kings). They'll even do one better because the LA Galaxy from the MLS have a home game as well.
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So traffic will especially suck today, that's what you're saying?
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That is correct sir
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Mookie and JD cannot continue to go 0 for LA and expect to win this series.
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I've got to be up at 5am. How the fuck am I supposed to go to bed?
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Mookie and JD cannot continue to go 0 for LA and expect to win this series.
Big home runs from both at the best time possible
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Mookie and JD cannot continue to go 0 for LA and expect to win this series.
Thanks Tim. :lol
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David Price is the MVP right now and he totally deserves it. I never thought I'd utter those words.
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David Price is the MVP right now and he totally deserves it. I never thought I'd utter those words.
If they go on and win, I cannot wait to hear Jim Murray tomorrow. :lol
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:lol
Glorious!
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Maybe Steven Pearce for MVP?
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Seems like it!! :metal
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One thing I've noticed this weekend is that there's lots of Sox fans out there...
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This Pederson at bat is huge.
-
Like Joe Kelly just said,
"Fuck yeah!"
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Like Joe Kelly just said,
"Fuck yeah!"
Saw that!
Why is Sale pitching...against all righties??
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Tuning into the game just long enough to see Dodger boo boo faces.
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Tuning into the game just long enough to see Dodger boo boo faces.
Happy to oblige. :metal
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Our team hits a ball with a stick better than your team hits a ball with a stick.
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Tuning into the game just long enough to see Dodger boo boo faces.
Happy to oblige. :metal
Yup, took some serious delight in that one. Now to practice my humble smile for tomorrow at work.
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:metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
So here was my starting lineup for each game:
(https://i.imgur.com/yHDebUS.jpg) (https://imgur.com/yHDebUS)
And here are the TACs laying the seed 3 years ago!
(https://i.imgur.com/myVzSRN.jpg)
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Steve Pearce goes from having his heel stomped to hoisting a WS MVP. I can dig it.
Congrats to the Red Sox and their fans..... an incredible season given their record, and their wins over multiple 100 win teams just to get to the WS.
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congrats to the BoSox, easily the best team all year.
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Well...that sucked.
Congrats to the Red Sox. I wish the Dodgers had shown up to give the Sox a fight.
Just atrocious all the way around. We get two decent starts from the pitching staff. One goes to waste when our manager puts our closer in the game an inning too soon and he gives up a homer. Surprise, surprise. And then the manager pulls the next guy because of a misunderstanding and puts in two players who have no business being on a major league postseason roster (Alexander and Madson)?! Are you kidding me?! What a joke.
I've finally come around to "fire Dave Roberts" side. Yes, he's just a pawn for the front office, but he has no ability to manage a pitching staff in-game. The front office needs to go too, by the way.
Our catchers are awful. Our supposed #1 catcher is a switch-hitter who shouldn't be and who has trouble catching the ball, and our #2 hitter can't hit the broad side of a barn at the plate.
Manny Machado is a joke, and our other big trade deadline acquisition (Brian Dozier) forgot how to hit when he got here.
When David friggin' Freese is the teams best player in the post-season, you've got serious problems.
On a more humorous note, I looked at the box score for the 18 inning game. JBJ is listed as follows: "CF-LF-CF-LF-CF-LF-CF."
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YES!!!!!!
Steve Pearce is a great story, and I'm very happy for David Price. It's tough to go through life with the choker label.
It's remarkable how dominant this team was, won 108 games and then got even more dominant in the post-season just cutting a swath through 3 great teams to the tune of 11-3. The success of their approach might be a watershed moment for the three true outcomes style of today's game. The 2004 team will probably always be my favorite but man I really like this team.
Guess I never realized what a clown Machado was until this post-season, I wish Kelly or Evoldi had buried one in his ribs.
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I grew up an All-American kid, playing All-American sports. I played countless hours of baseball, football, basketball, kickball, soccer, tennis, tehtherball, lacrosse - you name it- in my neighborhood we played it. Most days, especially in summer, we'd play so late you couldn't see the ball anymore. So, I love sports. I played baseball and football through high school, and excelled in football. So much so, that I was accepted by and played for one of the greatest collegiate programs at the time, in the country. We were considered an elite program, and finished 2nd in the nation my senior year. I love football.
But, as I've grown older, I'm drawn more to baseball each year. As much as I love football, I don't watch football as most spectators do. You can have a strong understanding of the game, but once you play at an elite level- you wind up more often than not, analyzing every play and every situation. I've tried turning that off, but I can't. No more than a surgeon can turn off how to operate on someone; or a mechanic thinking about engine timing, while watching an auto race; or a pilot going over his mental pre-flight checklist when watching an air show. So, when I watch a football game, it can be exhausting.
I was a linebacker, so my role was to break down every play on Defense, in a matter of about 3 seconds, and call out one of about 70 different stunts we had before each play, based on down, distance, offensive set, and tendencies. There were more than 30 that started with the letter T. "T" words could be heard best on the field over our fans, who at one time were the loudest on the planet. Tank, tonk, turner, trip, Tennessee, travel, Travis, tiny, talk, tape, taxi, teacher--- all had particular nuanced meaning. And EVERY football game I watch, I'm instinctively doing that, every play.
I find that as much as I know about baseball (and that's a lot), I can watch and cheer for my team. I can just be a fan. I love baseball. The tradition, the pace, the strategy, the history, the grind. It is, the perfect game. To quote Paul Auster, "Baseball is a universe as large as life itself, and therefore all things in life, whether good or bad, whether tragic or comic, fall within its domain.”
I say ALLLL of that, to see this...Unless you were a fan of the Sox, did anyone else think the end of that last game was just sort of meh?
It was just kind of uneventful. I get that it was on the road. I'm saying it was kind of anticlimactic. Here we are, the Big 162. Go through the playoffs, then the series- and it was as exciting as watching paint dry. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but close.
Anyone else worried about baseball's issue with fans losing interest? I am.
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It was as exciting as watching paint dry because the Dodgers were outmatched. Can you say that last year's WS was that boring? Maybe game 7, but not the rest of it.
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Well...that sucked.
Congrats to the Red Sox. I wish the Dodgers had shown up to give the Sox a fight.
Just atrocious all the way around. We get two decent starts from the pitching staff. One goes to waste when our manager puts our closer in the game an inning too soon and he gives up a homer. Surprise, surprise. And then the manager pulls the next guy because of a misunderstanding and puts in two players who have no business being on a major league postseason roster (Alexander and Madson)?! Are you kidding me?! What a joke.
I've finally come around to "fire Dave Roberts" side. Yes, he's just a pawn for the front office, but he has no ability to manage a pitching staff in-game. The front office needs to go too, by the way.
Our catchers are awful. Our supposed #1 catcher is a switch-hitter who shouldn't be and who has trouble catching the ball, and our #2 hitter can't hit the broad side of a barn at the plate.
Manny Machado is a joke, and our other big trade deadline acquisition (Brian Dozier) forgot how to hit when he got here.
When David friggin' Freese is the teams best player in the post-season, you've got serious problems.
On a more humorous note, I looked at the box score for the 18 inning game. JBJ is listed as follows: "CF-LF-CF-LF-CF-LF-CF."
All this talk about firing Roberts, but two WS in a row is no small feat. Especially with the uphill climb it was this year. Other teams are lucky just to be in one!
Yes on catching. Barnes is a good backup, but Grandal has to go.
I love CK, he helped get us here, I want to keep him, but he's a #4 postseason starter, We got Beuhler, Urias, and Ryu, and may pick up someone in the winter. Hill's getting too old.
The Dodgers seem to get big players from other teams who somehow end up barely doing anything here. Shane Victorino and Andruw Jones. Yeesh. Add Grandal and Machado and Dozier to that list.
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It was as exciting as watching paint dry because the Dodgers were outmatched. Can you say that last year's WS was that boring? Maybe game 7, but not the rest of it.
Pretty much. Dodgers didn't show up for game 7 last year or game 5 this year. Game 7 last year was over after 2 innings. I turned off game 5 this year after Martinez's homer that made it 4-1. Last year's WS was exiting (other than game 7). This year's was a big clunker pretty much right out of the gate, with game 3 being the only really compelling part of it.
All this talk about firing Roberts, but two WS in a row is no small feat. Especially with the uphill climb it was this year. Other teams are lucky just to be in one!
Yes on catching. Barnes is a good backup, but Grandal has to go.
I love CK, he helped get us here, I want to keep him, but he's a #4 postseason starter, We got Beuhler, Urias, and Ryu, and may pick up someone in the winter. Hill's getting too old.
The Dodgers seem to get big players from other teams who somehow end up barely doing anything here. Shane Victorino and Andruw Jones. Yeesh. Add Grandal and Machado and Dozier to that list.
I hear you about "two WS in a row is no small feat," but I feel like Roberts had little to do with the team making those two WS, but he had a lot to do with the team losing both of them. The problem is that, if the front office remains in place, it doesn't much matter who the manager is, so if Friedman and Zaidi remain, then Roberts may as well stay also.
I could go on and on about Grandal. I can't tell you how many times I watched him take pitches in the strike zone or that were too close to take with too strikes and then glare at or argue with the umpire. He doesn't seem to know the strike zone very well.
I'm not sure where I am on Kershaw. He's not the same player he was even two years ago, and he's got a losing record and a 4.32 ERA in the playoffs. That said, he's still a well above average pitcher, and I like it when guys play their whole careers in one place. If he decides not to opt out, that's fine. If he does opt out, I think he will do so with at least the initial intent of giving the Dodgers a crack at re-signing him for more than two years. However, he's not worth the $70M that he's due over the next two years, so I'm not sure what sort of contract he'd be willing to take that I'd be ok with as a fan.