2018 MLB Postseason Discussion Thread

[Mike Sixel]

Yes, trusting Jeffress in that spot. I wouldn’t call pitching a scoreless inning with a 3-run lead “coming through” considering his disastrous post-season, but fine.

 

Then having Hader already in and out of the game by the end of the fifth inning is regrettable, if you ask me.

He was trying for offense. It didn't work. That deep bullpen was one of the ways they got to the post season. I probably leave Hader in, turns out it would not have mattered

[Vanimal46]

Good for Dozier to play in a WS. Happy for him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yes, trusting Jeffress in that spot. I wouldn’t call pitching a scoreless inning with a 3-run lead “coming through” considering his disastrous post-season, but fine.

 

Then having Hader already in and out of the game by the end of the fifth inning is regrettable, if you ask me.

He got 3 innings out of Hader. What does it matter they were innings 3-5 rather than, say, 6-8? His starters have been pretty marginal, the other relievers aren't as good or as rested. Maybe he could have stretched Hader to 4 innings, but they also needed runs and he didn't have the luxury of the DH.

 

I agree I would have gone to Woodruff instead of Jeffress tonight. But that is pretty standard manager criticism, and it feels like the charges being leveled at Counsell here are a bit stronger.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Brewers lost me with their decision in game 5 to deceive LA by starting Miley for 1 batter. I'm glad they lost tonight. They don't deserve to go to the WS.

I don't get the uproar over that either. It is not remotely against the rules, and it doesn't even appear to be particularly unsportsmanlike -- it's pretty much a variation of platoon matchup pitching changes that already happen multiple times every game. And it didn't even work -- the Dodgers didn't tailor their lineup to Miley, and he walked the only guy he faced. (Although it didn't blow up on Counsell either.)

 

As a mostly neutral fan, it made the game a bit more interesting than if he had simply started Woodruff.

[Danchat]

I don't really see what Counsell did wrong... the Dodgers pitchers were simply better. Chacin giving up 2 runs sealed the game, and the offense was the problem, at least for game 7. 

 

I guess I'll be cheering for the Dodgers to win over the Red Sox just because of Dozier... but I would have preferred seeing the Brewers in the WS.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

He was trying for offense. It didn't work. That deep bullpen was one of the ways they got to the post season. I probably leave Hader in, turns out it would not have mattered

You say you would have left Hader in -- it was the inning after Hader was taken out that Puig took Jeffress deep. So maybe Hader stays in another inning and the score stays 2-1. That is hardly "would not have mattered."

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

He got 3 innings out of Hader. What does it matter they were innings 3-5 rather than, say, 6-8? His starters have been pretty marginal, the other relievers aren't as good or as rested. Maybe he could have stretched Hader to 4 innings, but they also needed runs and he didn't have the luxury of the DH.

I agree I would have gone to Woodruff instead of Jeffress tonight. But that is pretty standard manager criticism, and it feels like the charges being leveled at Counsell here are a bit stronger.

Pitchers have been batting this whole series. Let Hader strike out and come out to pitch the sixth. That's what I expected to happen.

 

..Or another way to do it is give the 3-5 innings to Woodruff, who is better with the bat, in case the pitcher spot comes up.

[USAFChief]

Hader is a reliever. 3 IP is already pushing it. You cant send him out there for a fourth inning.

 

Counsel managed just fine. They fell behind and couldn't muster offense.

[Otto von Ballpark]

You say you would have left Hader in -- it was the inning after Hader was taken out that Puig took Jeffress deep. So maybe Hader stays in another inning and the score stays 2-1. That is hardly "would not have mattered."

Considering the Brewers only managed one baserunner after that point -- a two-out single by Arcia in the 7th with the pitcher's spot due up -- it probably wouldn't have mattered.

[Vanimal46]

I don't get the uproar over that either. It is not remotely against the rules, and it doesn't even appear to be particularly unsportsmanlike -- it's pretty much a variation of platoon matchup pitching changes that already happen multiple times every game. And it didn't even work -- the Dodgers didn't tailor their lineup to Miley, and he walked the only guy he faced. (Although it didn't blow up on Counsell either.)

 

As a mostly neutral fan, it made the game a bit more interesting than if he had simply started Woodruff.

MLB hasn't needed to write in a rule like that because teams have been operating in good faith for nearly 100 years. If they start a pitcher, they would see how he throws for more than 5 pitches.

 

If you can't see the error and bush league nature of telling someone you're starting a LH pitcher with every intention of taking him out after 1 batter I can't help you. It's a bad precedent, and I'm glad they weren't rewarded for their blatant deceit.

[big dog]

I find the strategy unsettling for my traditionalist views.  I don't think that makes it bad, though.  Given that a player who is removed from the game can't be reinserted, it isn't a costless strategy, so I don't know that it's the cheating- it's just burning assets in nontraditional ways.

 

I do think that playing one way for 162 games and then completely changing strategies, in radical ways, for the playoffs indicates that the playoff structure might not be a true test of who is the "best team", but of course that's been true for a long time- if the Twins had been required to use a traditional rotation of starters in '87 and '91 we probably wouldn't have won.  Of course, we also wouldn't have faced Koufax 3 times in 7 games in '65.

 

Should an NFL team have to tell its opponent what defenses it will use for the first ten plays of each game, or can they change strategy to respond to their opponent?

 

My biggest problem is I'm sick of staying up so late watching 26 pitching changes.  If that causes me to quit watching, and there are 50 million people like me, then MLB might actually care.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

My biggest problem is I'm sick of staying up so late watching 26 pitching changes. If that causes me to quit watching, and there are 50 million people like me, then MLB might actually care.

I'm not sure pitching changes are the biggest culprit -- idle time between pitches really adds up.

 

And of course, pairing longer games with fewer balls in play is a bad combination.

[TheLeviathan]

MLB has to like the big markets.....how are the ratings?

 

I never thought a long series favored Milwaukee, not with their lack of high-end SP.

 

 

[Sarah]

When Taylor made that great catch on the Yelich ball that would have tied the game I thought it might be the Dodgers night. But seriously, Dodgers...meh. 

[RatherBeGolfing]

As long as those in Wisconsin don't get to enjoy a title, I am happy. Sorry not sorry Brewers

[Otto von Ballpark]

Baseball's back! On free TV, no less. Presumably with real starting pitchers too!

 

Tuesday, Oct. 23

 

7:09 pm CDT

World Series Game 1

Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox

Clayton Kershaw vs. Chris Sale

TV: FOX

[RatherBeGolfing]

BoSaux in 5

[Nine of twelve]

 

BoSaux in 5

This predicts the Red Sox winning in spite of the home field advantage the Dodgers would have in a 5-game WS.

[RatherBeGolfing]

 

This predicts the Red Sox winning in spite of the home field advantage the Dodgers would have in a 5-game WS.

 

Yes, it does. Boston isn't afraid to play on the road

[biggentleben]

Dodgers broke union lines to stay at the hotel they did during the hotel workers' strike. That's really incensed a lot of people against the team.

 

FWIW, the Astros found another hotel that was not part of the strike in order to not break lines during the ALCS.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dozier batting lead off in Game 1

 

Good on ya Dave Roberts

[Danchat]

And Nunez gets the 3 run HR that should ensure the victory!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dozier's weak arm and limited range cost the Dodgers 2 runs on consectutive batters in the 5th. slow throw and turn on double play ball accounts for one, and limited range lets ball get into right center next at bat. Gold Glove dive, though. That play perhaps gonna score the run from third anyway... but a quick turn and strong arm gets the double play and out of inning on previous play.

 

The batted balls were well out of range (unless I am misremembering). You are correct though, he should have had that double play turned. Defense matters.

 

Will be interesting to see if he gets the start tomorrow night against Price another lefty.

[ashbury]

I don't know if this is relevant, since it's nothing to do with the game, but I wandered around the streets surrounding Fenway last night, and posted my observations here:

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/159/entry-11254-the-cheapskates-guide-to-attending-the-world-series/

[Mike Sixel]

 

Dodgers broke union lines to stay at the hotel they did during the hotel workers' strike. That's really incensed a lot of people against the team.

 

FWIW, the Astros found another hotel that was not part of the strike in order to not break lines during the ALCS.

 

Between that and Machado trying to injure someone earlier, I have no one to root for. 

[spanman2]

Postseason...that is when you generally play multiple games in October I believe...hopefully some year in the not too distant future.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't know if this is relevant, since it's nothing to do with the game, but I wandered around the streets surrounding Fenway last night, and posted my observations here:

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/159/entry-11254-the-cheapskates-guide-to-attending-the-world-series/

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

[Vanimal46]

Why is Roberts continuing to play Hernandez? Ice cold. Good thing Puig is clutch.

[ashbury]

Why is Roberts continuing to play Hernandez? Ice cold. Good thing Puig is clutch.

I was just about to post that those who find strikeouts boring should watch that Hernandez AB.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Boston leads game two, 4-2 after 7.

 

My spidey sense is tingling, telling me this Series goes, oh, roughly 4 games, ya know, give or take a game. Five games tops.