2020 MLB (non-Twins) Postseason Discussion Thread

[Otto von Ballpark]

Feel free to chime in here about any of the (non-Twins) 2020 MLB postseason games!

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'll go first: why the (*%#(*& isn't Hyun-Jin Ryu starting the first game for the Blue Jays?

 

https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/simmons-why-arent-jays-starting-ace-hyun-jin-ryu-in-game-1

 

 

Montoyo said there are several reasons why they aren’t starting their ace in the opener of a series in which they only need two wins. Then he really didn’t explain any of them.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

The non-Ryu Jays starters (apparently Shoemaker and Ray in tandem) actually did pretty well, although they gave up a triple that scored on a wild pitch in the 4th.

 

Former (almost?) Twin Nick Anderson came on, leading 1-0 with 2 runners on and 1 out in the 7th and escaped the game. Still pitching, Rays now up 3-0 in the 8th.

[Danchat]

The Yankees have already put up 5 on Bieber... despite the Bieber-Cole matchup, there's already been 7 runs scored. 

[nicksaviking]

Ugh, so many teams in the post season this year so I thought I'd be more interested than many years, but aside from the Twins I don't really want to see anyone win it all. I basically have two (very shallow) rules when it comes to cheering for sports teams that aren't my local team. I don't want teams I don't like to win (obviously), and I don't want teams that have longer championship droughts to win one before my team does (because I'm jealous and petty).

 

So I hate the other AL Central teams, plus the Yankees and the Astros; they're out. The A's have a longer WS drought than the Twins, and while the Rays have only been around since 1998, screw them, they don't get to win one before the Twins win their next one. I guess that leaves Toronto as a rather blah, AL team to follow.

 

In the NL, LA, SD, Mil and Cin have longer WS droughts so they can all pack it up and go home. Meanwhile, I really dislike Atlanta and the Cubs so they better not win. I guess I can tolerate Miami and St Louis? 

 

Ish.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I actually just like competitive postseason baseball, no matter the teams — although a good underdog story is a nice bonus!

 

(In that sense, the annual Twins elimination is often a relief! It is usually among the least competitive series, sadly.)

[Otto von Ballpark]

Tuned in tonight just in time to see Cleveland blow a 4-0 lead, now 5-4 Yankees in the 4th inning.

 

Could the third place, road team White Sox last the longest of the AL Central teams in the playoffs?

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'll go first: why the (*%#(*& isn't Hyun-Jin Ryu starting the first game for the Blue Jays?

 

Well, Ryu got rocked in game 2 as Toronto was eliminated today, so what do I know...

[Danchat]

Weird how the White Sox and Yankees finished the year so poorly, yet have played rather well so far in the postseason. *insert joke about the Twins here*

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Ryan Pressly

Brandon Kintzler

Nick Anderson

 

all pitched scoreless 9th innings today in their team’s win

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Shot: Pressly, Kintzler, Nick Anderson

 

Chaser: Tampa Bay’s bullpen this round

[Otto von Ballpark]

Shot: Pressly, Kintzler, Nick Anderson

 

Chaser: Tampa Bay’s bullpen this round

None of the other former Twins in Tampa’s pen (Curtiss, Drake, and Slegers) made an appearance this series, although they didn’t have that much opportunity — Snell pitched 5.2 and Glasnow 6 innings.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Cleveland showed some life — Ramirez knocked home 2 to tie at 6, but then Gary Sanchez (.147 AVG this year) hit a wind-aided 2 run shot to put the Yankees back up, 8-6.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Brewers starter Suter walked 5 in 1.2 innings, Brewers down early 3-0 to the Dodgers.

 

I know everyone says that even a bad team can beat a great one sometimes in a best-of-3 but I don’t see it happening here.

[Danchat]

This Yankees-Indians game is getting quite exciting. Go Indians!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

This Yankees-Indians game is getting quite exciting. Go Indians!

Yeah, I listened to that one late. Too bad Cleveland couldn't at least force a game 3.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Marlins-Cubs postponed today, so we're guaranteed at least one game on Friday! And it will be Sixto Sanchez vs Yu Darvish, so that should be good.

 

Otherwise, the Thursday slate has four games, all on ESPN:

 

11 AM (CDT) CIN-ATL

2 PM CHW-OAK

6 PM STL-SDP

9 PM MIL-LAD

 

The 2 PM game is the win-or-go-home White Sox - Oakland matchup. Dane Dunning vs Mike Fiers. White Sox are all we have left representing the AL Central...

[Otto von Ballpark]

And it worked! (So far)

 

https://twitter.com/Brandon_Warne/status/1311750992560562180?s=20

[Otto von Ballpark]

Crochet left the game after a few slower-than-average (for him) fastballs.

 

Eloy Jimenez left the game too, after running out a base hit.

 

Sox led 3-0 at that point, down to 3-2 after an Oakland 2 run HR.

 

Carlos Rodon in to pitch now, in the bottom of the 4th...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Rodon loaded the bases with 2 walks, and reliever Foster walked in TWO runs. ChiSox now trail 4-3, and have used 6 pitchers to get through the first 4 innings.

 

Oakland is on their 3rd pitcher, but it's starter Frankie Montas so maybe he can give them some length.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Former Twin alert!

 

Liam Hendriks warming up as the A’s hold a 6-4 lead in the 8th inning.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hendriks hit 100 on the gun, the day after throwing 49 pitches, and struck out 3 in a row after a leadoff single.

 

A’s advance in the postseason for the first time since 2006.

[stringer bell]

AL Central went 0-3 in series and won one game. 

[Danchat]

Brusdar Graterol is getting the 9th in a 3-0 game for the Dodgers - it's almost as if teams are flexing on the Twins using all their former relievers. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Marlins-Cubs (Sixto Sanchez vs Yu Darvish) tilt starts now, on free TV (ABC).

 

Cardinals-Padres deciding game tonight at 6:08 PM CDT on ESPN.

[Otto von Ballpark]

With the Cubs loss to the Marlins this afternoon, 6 central division teams have been eliminated already (plus the Blue Jays). Cardinals/Padres result pending...

[flpmagikat]

Just saw that the Marlins have won 7 straight post season series! Granted they so rarely make it in, but damn. 

 

The fact that even the Marlins, the seemingly biggest joke of a team in mlb, who had the biggest issues with covid this season, can not only win a game but also a series while the Twins turn in these post season disasters on the reg, is horribly depressing.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Just saw that the Marlins have won 7 straight post season series! Granted they so rarely make it in, but damn. 

 

The fact that even the Marlins, the seemingly biggest joke of a team in mlb, who had the biggest issues with covid this season, can not only win a game but also a series while the Twins turn in these post season disasters on the reg, is horribly depressing.

Yup! Marlins have only made the postseason twice prior to this year, and they went the distance and won the World Series both times (1997 & 2003 -- both as a wild card too, never winning their division).

 

As hard as it is to fathom now, the Twins were probably once viewed in a very similar light nationally. Between 1971 and 2001, 30 years, the Twins only made the postseason twice, and won the World Series both times. And just like these Marlins, we even won our next postseason series after that, in 2002 vs the favored Oakland -- people thought the Twins franchise just had good luck in the postseason!

[Danchat]

The Marlins shut down the Cubs... with Brandon Kintzler! Because everyone has a really good former Twins reliever!

[Otto von Ballpark]

Cardinals lose to the Padres, so all 7 central division teams are eliminated.

 

A few days off, but next week, we get true "Division Series" -- all of the DS matchups are division rivals:

 

ATL vs MIA

LAD vs SDP

NYY vs TB

OAK vs HOU