Official 2017 MLB Season Thread

[RainMaker]

I know he's a media darling but Maddon is a really bad in-game manager.

[stevew]

Maddon makes baseball impossible to watch and how do you not have Davis out there. F that BS of only pitching him if you have a lead. He should be out there in a high leverage situation. Plus with all the double switches he basically had no bench left.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

This is the team that was around during the streak, let's hope it continues!

Which streak?

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Which streak?

Both of them, technically. It's just that this team played BETTER during one of the streaks, and they're playing more like that right now!

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Maddon makes baseball impossible to watch and how do you not have Davis out there. F that BS of only pitching him if you have a lead. He should be out there in a high leverage situation. Plus with all the double switches he basically had no bench left.

Let's face it though. He's playing with fewer cards than the Dodgers have at their disposal. LA's lineup and staff are designed to be max flexible and that makes a big difference. Plus, hadn't Davis already pitched like 3 days in a row, last night would have been 4?

[dubb93]

It’s frustrating watching this series so far. The Cubs have to score runs if they want to win, but Joe Maddon has let two guys that he didn’t trust to throw a single pitch against the National lose these first two games.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Plus, hadn't Davis already pitched like 3 days in a row, last night would have been 4?

No. Tonight will be day 4 with zero pitches for Davis actually.

[Vince, Pt. II]

The ultimate scenario for a Giants fan:

• Game 7, World Series
• Dodgers down by 1 run
• 2 outs
• Bases loaded
• Yasiel Puig at the plate
• Single to the gap
• Both runs score
• Puig gets mobbed by teammates
• Astros tag him out because he never got to 1B

[Vince, Pt. II]

(personally, I will be more than happy if the Cubs dispatch them, but that is a fun scenario to dream about)

[Coffee Warlord]

Maddon could build a time machine and drag Sandy Koufax in his prime to pitch against the Dodgers, and it still wouldn't matter. Cubs aren't hitting at all.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

(personally, I will be more than happy if the Cubs dispatch them, but that is a fun scenario to dream about)

[stevew]

Surely I couldn't be the only one who was questioning the sanity of having Puig out on the base paths in that type of situation where he was the winning run. Dude has a reputation of being a big moron on the base paths.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Maddon could build a time machine and drag Sandy Koufax in his prime to pitch against the Dodgers, and it still wouldn't matter. Cubs aren't hitting at all.

He'd find a way to over-think the situation and would replace Koufax too early with a Tim Worrell level reliever cuz he likes the match up better

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by stevew

Surely I couldn't be the only one who was questioning the sanity of having Puig out on the base paths in that type of situation where he was the winning run. Dude has a reputation of being a big moron on the base paths.

He was scoring on a single so it didn't matter, plus they didn't have a RF other than Ethier.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Maddon could build a time machine and drag Sandy Koufax in his prime to pitch against the Dodgers, and it still wouldn't matter. Cubs aren't hitting at all.

The Dodgers weren’t hitting either until they saw Rondon and Lackey. The Cubs bats may have come alive if Dave Roberts had announced over the PA that the Dodgers were looking for a fan to come in and pitch an inning too.

Those two couldn’t be trusted to throw a pitch in the NLDS yet that crew of jackasses seems to be his go to so far in the NLCS.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

A very large image

I am totally ok with this

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Let's face it though. He's playing with fewer cards than the Dodgers have at their disposal. LA's lineup and staff are designed to be max flexible and that makes a big difference. Plus, hadn't Davis already pitched like 3 days in a row, last night would have been 4?

That doesn't excuse some basic mistakes he made. He made a double switch in the 6th for no reason whatsoever that took out his best defender. Strop was never throwing more than an inning. He didn't pinch hit for Almora in the 9th despite the fact Almora doesn't hit righties well and Jansen allows an OPS 350 points higher to lefties. Cubs had good lefty hitters available.

Similar to the WS where the moment gets to him and he gets shook.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

That doesn't excuse some basic mistakes he made. He made a double switch in the 6th for no reason whatsoever that took out his best defender. Strop was never throwing more than an inning. He didn't pinch hit for Almora in the 9th despite the fact Almora doesn't hit righties well and Jansen allows an OPS 350 points higher to lefties. Cubs had good lefty hitters available.

Similar to the WS where the moment gets to him and he gets shook.

Not only that, I find it hard to believe that LA has assembled this vastly superior roster than the team that eliminated them a year ago. The Cubs are not out of this at this point, but they need to start playing to their strong suits.

I'm beginning to the think that this was the season that having the #1 seed in the NL was EVERYTHING. Both Chi and WAS beat the hell out of each other. Would have probably played out the same if it was CHI vs. LA or WAS vs. LA in a 5 game series.

I do think the Cubs could would have had a better shot in these first two games if they were managed better though.

[tarcone]

Dave Roberts said in an interview it was huge having home field advantage. He said last year the travel took a huge toll on his team.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

That doesn't excuse some basic mistakes he made. He made a double switch in the 6th for no reason whatsoever that took out his best defender. Strop was never throwing more than an inning. He didn't pinch hit for Almora in the 9th despite the fact Almora doesn't hit righties well and Jansen allows an OPS 350 points higher to lefties. Cubs had good lefty hitters available.

Similar to the WS where the moment gets to him and he gets shook.

And there is this write-up, which I think captures the 9th inning well. Wrigleyville - Baseball Prospectus

[jbergey22]

MLB playoffs shouldnt have all these travel days. Play a 7 game series without breaks like they do throughout the regular season. They can have a their rest between series and as a reward for winning the series early. This will also take care of the season ending so close to November that the league is trying to get away from.

Dodgers just have a much better staff than the Cubbies this year. Arrieta and Lester both took a step back this season.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

He was scoring on a single so it didn't matter, plus they didn't have a RF other than Ethier.

That is assuming that he had the sense to touch 3rd base on the way around

[MrBug708]

Has he ever not?

[PilotMan]

The Yankees gave it away tonight, then got it back and more. What is going on with the Astros pen tonight?

[Drake]

If I'm AJ Hinch, I'm not going to stop drinking until the sun comes up.

[Jas_lov]

Houston will probably need Keuchel and Verlander to win all 4 games for them. Don't think they'd want a Game 7 where one of those two couldn't pitch.

[MrBug708]

Big, big win for the Dodgers!

[RainMaker]

Cubbies getting exposed

[stevew]

Expansion Could Trigger Realignment, Longer Postseason | BaseballAmerica.com

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

Expansion Could Trigger Realignment, Longer Postseason | BaseballAmerica.com

That might just be one of the most abhorrent things I've ever read involving baseball.

Whoever came up with that shit ought to be hung from the nearest yardarm, their body left to rot as a warning to any fool who just casually decides to do away with NL and AL.

I'm not even sure I'd take that proposal even if it meant ending the abomination known as the DH.

[Logan]

It made sense to find ways to reduce travel back in the 70s and 80s, I'm sure. Now these guys are flying chartered flights with huge seats and fine dining on board. I'm not sure how grueling it can possibly be.

[PilotMan]

I don't know about fine dining, but there is usually a shitload of food to choose from. Almost unlimited per person.

[cuervo72]

That really does sound like an awful idea.

[MrBug708]

Some crazy stats for the Dodgers:
No opposing starting pitcher has recorded an out in the sixth inning against the Dodgers this postseason. Through six games, opposing starters have a 6.12 ERA and have averaged 4.17 innings per game. Relievers have pitched more innings against the Dodgers in these playoffs (25⅔) than starters (25).

[Coffee Warlord]

There's the Cubs solo home run early. Game's over, Dodgers win.

[Coffee Warlord]

The cycle is broken. Look out.

[MrBug708]

Cubs up early for the 4th game in a row.

[PilotMan]

Arrieta is really struggling to find the strike zone consistently so far. Very similar to how he pitched in the NLDS.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

At this rate Chris Taylor will have more than AGon.

Prophetic

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Prophetic

Does Joc still have one?

[MrBug708]

Curtis didn't foul tip it, mostly because he hasn't hit anything all game

[PilotMan]

That was dumb.

[PilotMan]

Dumb that they talked about it. Dumb that they overturned it. Dumb for Maddon's reaction and getting himself tossed.

[Coffee Warlord]

Are you fucking serious?

[PilotMan]

All that for 1 pitch. So dumb.

[Sweed]

fuck you, you piece of shit.

[MrBug708]

5 K's in 4 AB's for Grandy

[stevew]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That might just be one of the most abhorrent things I've ever read involving baseball.

Whoever came up with that shit ought to be hung from the nearest yardarm, their body left to rot as a warning to any fool who just casually decides to do away with NL and AL.

I'm not even sure I'd take that proposal even if it meant ending the abomination known as the DH.

I really don't like the divisional pairings. Seems like Baltimore and Washington and maybe Atlanta should be paired with New York, New York, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. Call that the American League East. How about division with Pittsburgh Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Minnesota and Tampa. Make that the NL Central. Use whatever they have on the West Coast as the National League West. And that Midwest Division can be the American League Midwest. It's all probably just trial balloons their floating out there and they'll work from that. I doubt they're going to radically realign.

I do like how its setup so that every team plays every team at home at least every other year.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by stevew

Expansion Could Trigger Realignment, Longer Postseason | BaseballAmerica.com

I don't like this although I am intrigued at putting the Chicago and New York teams in the same division.

I'd like to see them keep the same amount of teams, reduce the season to 154 games, make the divisional series 7 games and the wild card series 3.

I can live without the wild card being 3 but I really think the divisional series should be 7. Seems silly to play all those games, have the best record, and then get knocked out in a weird 5 game series where depth doesn't play a big role.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

I really don't like the divisional pairings. Seems like Baltimore and Washington and maybe Atlanta should be paired with New York, New York, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. Call that the American League East. How about division with Pittsburgh Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Minnesota and Tampa. Make that the NL Central. Use whatever they have on the West Coast as the National League West. And that Midwest Division can be the American League Midwest. It's all probably just trial balloons their floating out there and they'll work from that. I doubt they're going to radically realign.

I do like how its setup so that every team plays every team at home at least every other year.

You don't start moving around teams from league to league willy nilly either.

Then again, expansion is a dumb as fuck idea for MLB at this point anyway. Given the state of pitching in the league these days, contraction by 2 to 6 teams would be a better idea.

They "get it" about as well as NASCAR management, and every time they tinker, they seem to make shit worse.