2018 MLB Postseason Discussion Thread

[Otto von Ballpark]

A rare walk from Ryan Pressly! Rare since leaving the Twins, anyway. He also recorded 2 outs in the 8th before being relieved by Astros closer Osuna (who stranded Pressly's baserunner).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Cole is in the driver's seat this game setting it on cruise control...

If you like deep starting pitching performances, you might be rooting for a Astros-Dodgers rematch.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Not a former Twin, but native Minnesotan Brad Hand pitches a scoreless 8th for Cleveland.

[S.]

David Price is awful in the post season. That's one free agent pitcher that I hope our FO has no interest in, regardless of his regular season numbers. Though I was saying the same thing prior to his clunker of a start* tonight too.

[Nine of twelve]

 

I can't hate the Red Sox. In fact, I grudgingly admire them. They have turned themselves into everything I think the Twins should be. They refuse to knuckle under to the Yankees, instead standing toe to toe and swapping body blows. They aren't intimidated. They spend money, they look for advantages, they make trades, they draft and develop well. 

 

Rather than searching for reasons they can't, they believe they can.

The main reason they believe they can is because they have almost as much money to work with as the Yankees do. The teams that the Twins should be like, the ones that are admirable, are Tampa Bay and Oakland.

[biggentleben]

 

Good for him. As I'm sure Detriot would attest to, a 90 MPH junkballing righty probably has a better chance of making it in the NL these days.

 

He's also done some things to change his pitching approach on the mound. I had a scout say if he were using the 20 to 80 model on Sanchez, he has 3 pitches in the 60+ range, and none of those is his fastball, 

[Otto von Ballpark]

David Price is awful in the post season. That's one free agent pitcher that I hope our FO has no interest in, regardless of his regular season numbers.

Do you think Price will opt out? I think not -- he's 33, his regular seasons haven't been that great the last few years, and he is still due 4 years, $127 mil.

[S.]

 

Do you think Price will opt out? I think not -- he's 33, his regular seasons haven't been that great the last few years, and he is still due 4 years, $127 mil.

I'm not really sure. He is owed a lot still but he might be hoping he can tack on a few more guaranteed years from someone who is desperate after they lose out on the Kershaw sweepstakes.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe I am softening, or maybe I am pretty anti-Red Sox too, because I found myself cheering for the Yankees to even the series last night, and cheered their near-comeback Friday night.

 

In any case, Yankees won last night, and their series with the Red Sox is now the only series tied 1-1 after 2 games.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Sunday Oct. 7

 

3:37 pm CST

NLDS Game 3

Milwaukee at Colorado

(MIL leads 2-0)

TV: MLBN

 

7:07 pm CST

NLDS Game 3

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta

(LAD leads 2-0)

TV: FS1

[nicksaviking]

Verlander is a stud.

I know the counting stars aren’t cool anymore, but I’d like to see him go the route of the classic HOF starter in his twilight years; pitch until he’s 42, maybe bounce around to a few other franchises and pick up his 300th win whilst sporting a grey beard.

[notoriousgod71]

I can not stand any of these managers. I hope they all lose.

[notoriousgod71]

I would like to know why every manager jumps on the same bandwagon at the same time. You would think there would be one contrarian that says, "I'm going to let my starting pitcher throw more than 60 pitches. today."

[Otto von Ballpark]

I would like to know why every manager jumps on the same bandwagon at the same time. You would think there would be one contrarian that says, "I'm going to let my starting pitcher throw more than 60 pitches. today."

I thought the Dodgers had a quick hook with Rich Hill last postseason, but so far this year they seem to be riding their starters -- they even let Buehler continue tonight after walking the pitcher with the bases loaded and then giving up a grand slam in the 2nd.

 

Astros are riding their starters so far. Cleveland is trying to, although Kluber didn't cooperate. So I don't think every manager is pulling their starters too early. (Although I don't even mind the quick hook as much in the NL if it means fewer pitchers batting.)

 

We could see it swing back toward starters this postseason too as some pens get exposed (i.e. I might expect Boston to try riding Porcello a bit more tomorrow).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Brewers are the first team to advance past the division series, with a sweep of the Rockies. Milwaukee has the NL's top seed, so will host game 1 of the NLCS.

 

Interesting game going on right now. Atlanta, shut out in the first 2 games and trying to stave off elimination, grabbed a 5-0 lead tonight, but the Dodgers battled back to even it up at 5-5. Freeman just homered to put Atlanta back up, 6-5.

[Nine of twelve]

My wife asked me who I wanted to win this series and I said Atlanta, I guess. And then the fans started that infernal chant so now I think I may actually want the Dodgers to win because I don't want to hear that any more than I have to.

[USAFChief]

Congrats to the Brewers.

 

Take note, Falvine. Add some legit MLB talent.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Former Twin Brian Dozier made his Dodgers postseason debut last night, singling as a pinch hitter to lead off the 8th and staying in the game at 2B. Unfortunately, he also went on to strike out to end the game in the 9th with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second.

[notoriousgod71]

 

I thought the Dodgers had a quick hook with Rich Hill last postseason, but so far this year they seem to be riding their starters -- they even let Buehler continue tonight after walking the pitcher with the bases loaded and then giving up a grand slam in the 2nd.

Astros are riding their starters so far. Cleveland is trying to, although Kluber didn't cooperate. So I don't think every manager is pulling their starters too early. (Although I don't even mind the quick hook as much in the NL if it means fewer pitchers batting.)

We could see it swing back toward starters this postseason too as some pens get exposed (i.e. I might expect Boston to try riding Porcello a bit more tomorrow).

 

 

Carrasco got taken out after 77 pitches so I wouldn't agree the great Tito is trying to ride his starters. Houston is the least egregious team out there but even their starters are only averaging six innings per start when Verlander and Cole have been dominant.

 

 

It's just annoying to watch as a fan.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Carrasco got taken out after 77 pitches so I wouldn't agree the great Tito is trying to ride his starters. Houston is the least egregious team out there but even their starters are only averaging six innings per start when Verlander and Cole have been dominant.

 

 

It's just annoying to watch as a fan.

Carrasco had just put the first 2 runners on base in the 6th, nursing a 1-run lead against a dominant Gerrit Cole, and the batter due up had already tagged Carrasco for 2 hits that day. Trailing 1-0 in the series, with an off day the next day, I don't think it's unreasonable to go to your pen in that situation. Especially if you view your pen as a strength (although Miller faltered badly in this spot, which could cause Francona to approach it differently in upcoming games).

 

Another factor is bullpen composition. Sure, Carrasco got pulled earlier than you would expect in a regular season game -- but the Cleveland postseason pen now includes Trevor Bauer. And Bauer has pitched in both games so far. It's not like they were deciding to pull the starter and make up the innings with some marginal reliever.

 

That bullpen composition factor is similar across the league right now -- the Astros have McCullers in their pen, which is probably why they pulled Verlander when he ran into his first trouble at 102 pitches in Game 1. Likewise, the Dodgers have Alex Wood, the Red Sox used Porcello on his throw day, the Braves used Sean Newcomb on his throw day, etc. Teams are going all-out to win games, which is good. It's different than the regular season, it's different than past postseasons, but I don't think it's necessarily worse. Just have to re-calibrate.

 

Personally, I think the aggressive pitching moves are kind of interesting. They slow the game down, but it's basically just an extra commercial break -- a couple minutes where I can do something else and not miss any action. Plus you can discuss the move, look up the pitcher and batter splits, second-guess the manager, etc.

 

The far bigger problem, to me, is still pace of play, with batters stepping out after every pitch. That's not a solid break in the action, there's no tactic to question -- that's just dragging everything out.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Another fairly big day, with 3 games -- and 2 potential series clinchers.

 

I think all the games are free on ESPN Radio, if you are stuck at work during the day games. And the evening game starts at a reasonable time tonight!

 

Monday Oct. 8

 

12:30 pm CST

ALDS Game 2

Houston at Cleveland

(HOU leads 2-0)

TV: TBS

 

3:30 pm CST

NLDS Game 3

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

(LAD leads 2-1)

TV: FS1

 

6:40 pm CST

ALDS Game 2

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

(series tied 1-1)

TV: TBS

[Vanimal46]

I don't see Cleveland stopping Houston from sweeping this series.

[big dog]

 

Former Twin Brian Dozier made his Dodgers postseason debut last night, singling as a pinch hitter to lead off the 8th and staying in the game at 2B. Unfortunately, he also went on to strike out to end the game in the 9th with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second.

Yeah, I felt sorry for him on that- I don't care about the Dodgers but I wanted him to get on base.  He swung at a 1-2 pitch that was low and away, the first slider after 3 97-mph fastballs.  However, he was the third guy in a row to strike out with two runners on base, including Machado.  Vizcaino was really dealing.

[Vanimal46]

Cleveland on the ropes ready to get swept.

[Vanimal46]

Cody Allen is losing future money with every appearance this post season.

[ashbury]

The fork, it is ready to be stuck.

[Vanimal46]

The fork, it is ready to be stuck.

Cleveland's off-season is going to be veeeery interesting. They'll also have to rebuild their bullpen. I doubt they try to resign Miller or Allen.

[Vanimal46]

The fork, it is ready to be stuck.

Fork engaged, now firmly in the flesh of an overcooked Cleveland team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Cleveland's off-season is going to be veeeery interesting. They'll also have to rebuild their bullpen. I doubt they try to resign Miller or Allen.

I don't know -- Miller and Allen would be good "buy low" candidates.

[Vanimal46]

I don't know -- Miller and Allen would be good "buy low" candidates.

Definitely. Worth monitoring over the next couple of months if THEY bring the band back together or move on. Theirs is way more valid than the Twins bringing their band back together.