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Post by CardsGM (Mat) on Oct 8, 2016 6:10:14 GMT -5
So far, pitching and HRs have been the story. From the Magical Bumgarner to The Price is Wrong, the games are seemingly dominated by how the pitching rolls along. So many duals of aces so far that it seems having that one inning or two's edge can make all of the difference in the world.
But overall, and maybe it's just me, the games have been MUCH more entertaining than last year. My thoughts on where each series stands:
- TOR gets to lean on their true ace, Aaron Sanchez, at home, where he dominated the Rangers last year to the tune of a 5.1 IP outing / 3 H / 1 BB / 6 Ks and NO ER. To say it's going to be an uphill battle for TEX is a massive understatement, particularly when you consider that the 2 day rest will also help make Roberto Osuna available once again. *Side note, really hope Liriano's brain is safe and sound, that was scary
- BOS thought it was going to roll over the Indians, particularly with all of the injuries to the Tribe pitchers. But, if you're a Jays fan you know that leaning on Price in the playoffs may not be a particularly good thing to do. That he performed below Happ - who cost the Jays a fraction of what Price will cost the Red Sox - is just the cherry on the cake if you're the Jays. That and it should set up a series of the Tribe vs the Jays, which significantly increases the chances the Jays can make it to the WS as they definitely have a pitching edge over them with all of the injuries the Tribe have suffered.
On a sad note, it seems David Ortiz' career will come to an end soon and it could be as early as this weekend. One of the best personalities in the game, he will definitely be missed.
- CHC fans had to be worried for a while there, and I seem to remember 100 rumors linking Javier Baez to different teams this off season so the Cubs could add "much needed" pitching. Pretty sure they're stoked to have kept him around as he put his name firmly in the story that is the Cubs chase of their first WS in ages. A side story here is the fact that the Red Sox didn't want to pay Jon Lester what he deserved, so he walked in order to side a contract worth MUCH less than what the Red Sox paid for David Price. Mistake? Undoubtedly, and Theo Epstein knew that every step of the way. How the Red Sox let both him and Lester go is beyond me. Still too early to tell how it'll go, but the Cubs did what was expected of them, unlike the AL dominant teams.
- WAS is the under dog here but did fairly well in this one. To ask a telling question about how the Playoffs are a new season: if you needed 1 pitcher on the mound to win it all, would you take Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, or Madison Bumgarner? Pretty sure 100% of the answers go to the latter. As much as LA's win puts them in the lead, they have to be somewhat concerned about Kershaw's lack of dominance, particularly with his recent injury issues. If they do move on, they may have to rely on depth vice their ace.
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Post by GiantsGM (Adam) on Oct 9, 2016 4:08:09 GMT -5
Javier baez thinks he's already a perennial all star. The kid needs to put his head down and play ball, not be so show-boaty. Don't get me wrong, I love to see the passion he plays with on the field.
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Post by CardsGM (Mat) on Oct 9, 2016 5:05:00 GMT -5
Javier baez thinks he's already a perennial all star. The kid needs to put his head down and play ball, not be so show-boaty. Don't get me wrong, I love to see the passion he plays with on the field. Honestly had to look at the highlight again to make sure I remembered this right, but he flicks his bat right where he stood - no flip - puts his head down and rounds the bases. It's a game changing HR in the playoffs for a guy who didn't even have a regular playing position when the season began, so I'd be pumped to!!! He came out for the curtain call pumped, but that just appeases the fans. That, to me, was a better non-in-your-face passion than what Bautista did last year and wasn't disrespectful at all. |
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Post by RockiesGM (Jarrod) on Oct 9, 2016 9:01:42 GMT -5
Javier baez thinks he's already a perennial all star. The kid needs to put his head down and play ball, not be so show-boaty. Don't get me wrong, I love to see the passion he plays with on the field. Honestly had to look at the highlight again to make sure I remembered this right, but he flicks his bat right where he stood - no flip - puts his head down and rounds the bases. It's a game changing HR in the playoffs for a guy who didn't even have a regular playing position when the season began, so I'd be pumped to!!! He came out for the curtain call pumped, but that just appeases the fans. That, to me, was a better non-in-your-face passion than what Bautista did last year and wasn't disrespectful at all. Well he did the same exact thing last night, except the ball didn't go out of the ballpark and he ended up getting called out at 2nd... Unacceptable in the playoffs.. He should've easily had a stand up double... I'm sure David Ross had something to say to him in the dugout.. I would imagine it doesn't happen again.. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2016 9:04:03 GMT -5
Personally, I have zero issues with celebrating big moments like that, especially in a crucial playoff game. I even had no problems with Bautista bat flip last year vs the Rangers. While I don't always agree with Bryce Harper, I do 100% agree with him that baseball is tired and needs to be more fun. Baez celebrating a massive moment late in a game is awesome... I don't know why we should demand that he quietly round the bases and go back to the dugout. Just my thoughts!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2016 9:05:09 GMT -5
But yes Rox, if that ball hadn't gone out, Baez would have been stuck with a single due to his celebration - that's inexcusable, but for a different reason than the passion he showed. Completely agree there!
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Post by RockiesGM (Jarrod) on Oct 9, 2016 9:38:19 GMT -5
Personally, I have zero issues with celebrating big moments like that, especially in a crucial playoff game. I even had no problems with Bautista bat flip last year vs the Rangers. While I don't always agree with Bryce Harper, I do 100% agree with him that baseball is tired and needs to be more fun. Baez celebrating a massive moment late in a game is awesome... I don't know why we should demand that he quietly round the bases and go back to the dugout. Just my thoughts! Well, he cost his team last night.. He did it two nights in a row and ended up getting thrown out at 2nd last night. Instead of being in easily for a stand-up double. It's too big of a game to do that, IMO. I have no problem celebrating, but you better be certain that ball is gone. Run it out until it's over the fence. |
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Post by GiantsGM (Adam) on Oct 9, 2016 11:51:57 GMT -5
Eh. I guess I'm biased here but Baez absolutely stares down cueto after hitting that bomb. He's also slow out of the box, and definitely didn't just 'drop the bat.' Whether it's a bat flip or not, it wasn't nothing, imo.
And the ball barely got out of the park! By three feet, lol.
Again, I'm not even saying he shouldn't be passionate. I love that enthusiasm. But it's a different thing entirely to directly show up a veteran pitcher like that.
Idk, someone should play hard with passion, not 'loudly' as I think he does.
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Post by GiantsGM (Adam) on Oct 9, 2016 13:57:03 GMT -5
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Post by CardsGM (Mat) on Oct 10, 2016 9:20:59 GMT -5
Karma's a bitch sometimes... That Rougned Odor's error resulted in the Jays sweeping the Rangers out of the playoffs is just Karma coming around to knock him right in the jaw. Funny how things work out sometimes.
Hoping for a sweep for the Tribe so we can get the next round going. Won't be easy in Fenway, but Boston's been on a slide since they lost their series vs the Jays in Fenway, so it's definitely doable.
That LAD-WAS series may go to 5 games, which could result in a huge delay for the AL team that makes it to the WS. Let's hope it all evens out in the end so that it's a competitive WS.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 10:03:01 GMT -5
Personally, I have zero issues with celebrating big moments like that, especially in a crucial playoff game. I even had no problems with Bautista bat flip last year vs the Rangers. While I don't always agree with Bryce Harper, I do 100% agree with him that baseball is tired and needs to be more fun. Baez celebrating a massive moment late in a game is awesome... I don't know why we should demand that he quietly round the bases and go back to the dugout. Just my thoughts! Well, he cost his team last night.. He did it two nights in a row and ended up getting thrown out at 2nd last night. Instead of being in easily for a stand-up double. It's too big of a game to do that, IMO. I have no problem celebrating, but you better be certain that ball is gone. Run it out until it's over the fence. Oh no doubt! I didn't see that game so I didn't know that he cost his team the 2nd time. I 100% agree that it's inexcusable in a situation like that. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 10:06:57 GMT -5
Eh. I guess I'm biased here but Baez absolutely stares down cueto after hitting that bomb. He's also slow out of the box, and definitely didn't just 'drop the bat.' Whether it's a bat flip or not, it wasn't nothing, imo. And the ball barely got out of the park! By three feet, lol. Again, I'm not even saying he shouldn't be passionate. I love that enthusiasm. But it's a different thing entirely to directly show up a veteran pitcher like that. Idk, someone should play hard with passion, not 'loudly' as I think he does. I guess I just have no issue with a batter staring down a pitcher, and I don't care at all if the pitcher is a veteran. If you don't want to be 'shown up', don't give up a HR. Plus, Cueto is far from innocent when it comes to this type of thing... he's a very animated pitcher who has done similar things to batters plenty of times (and I'm totally okay with that). I'm definitely with you that it's embarrassing for Baez to do that and the ball barely made it out - I wish it had been caught at the warning track to make the guy look like a fool haha. Anyways, totally respect your opinion! Even though I despise people like Bautista or Odor, ultimately, I'm glad they're in the league because they make it more fun. As ridiculous as their actions may be at times, this type of 'drama' is good for the game |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 10:08:46 GMT -5
Karma's a bitch sometimes... That Rougned Odor's error resulted in the Jays sweeping the Rangers out of the playoffs is just Karma coming around to knock him right in the jaw. Funny how things work out sometimes. Hoping for a sweep for the Tribe so we can get the next round going. Won't be easy in Fenway, but Boston's been on a slide since they lost their series vs the Jays in Fenway, so it's definitely doable. That LAD-WAS series may go to 5 games, which could result in a huge delay for the AL team that makes it to the WS. Let's hope it all evens out in the end so that it's a competitive WS. I loved how that game ended... so fitting! Odor is a little punk. I'm not sure if y'all saw it, but a Jays fan in the crowd had an awesome sign that said: "I'd rather be punched in May than knocked out in October" - fantastic. That LAD and WAS series is going to be good... I agree that it likely goes to 5 games. |
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Post by GiantsGM (Adam) on Oct 10, 2016 11:47:35 GMT -5
Eh, I guess I'm a fan of old school baseball. Im also a fan of the bean ball, to be honest. If a batter does something like that, dont be surprised if theres a fastball coming your way in an at bat soon. I agree with you cueto is animated, and again im NOT referring to playing with emotion. I'm referring to directly showing up the other player (which I think is completely independent of emotional play), like baez did before he left the box. For example, the curtain call baez took is totally fine, you can yell and show emotion, but if you're staring down the opposing team WHILE doing that, the action takes on another meaning entirely, imo. Without the 'drunk fence' at Wrigley that ball is caught and baez looks like the tool he is!  |
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