2021 Postseason Discussion and Game Thread

[sampleSizeOfOne]

On 10/17/2021 at 9:13 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

Technically, Atlanta is slightly larger than Boston in overall market.

Obviously, in baseball terms, Boston is the larger baseball market.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_statistical_areas

Thanks for doing my research for me.

(and sorry for being so lazy)

 

Yeah after posting that question, it did occur to me Boston proper is wicked small, but make up for it by being full of themselves. Maybe that is why the Braves left....

[LVTwinsfan]

Baseballs not as easy when you don’t have a garbage can to beat on  in the dugout 

[LVTwinsfan]

So if the Red Sox and the Braves go to the World Series the Braves will have played in two cities in the postseason that were former hosts of the Braves franchise 

[notoriousgod71]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I have no idea what the Dodgers are doing with their pitching staff this series. Bizarre, imo.

Right? You have the three best starting pitchers left in the postseason and you are just yanking them around and minimizing their impact. All three should be going at least 6-7 innings (if not more). Roberts has always done bizarre stuff with his pitching staff and mostly gets away with it because his rosters are far superior to everyone else in baseball.

[Otto von Ballpark]

17 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I have no idea what the Dodgers are doing with their pitching staff this series. Bizarre, imo.

 

13 hours ago, notoriousgod71 said:

Right? You have the three best starting pitchers left in the postseason and you are just yanking them around and minimizing their impact. All three should be going at least 6-7 innings (if not more). Roberts has always done bizarre stuff with his pitching staff and mostly gets away with it because his rosters are far superior to everyone else in baseball.

The Dodgers SP usage seems fairly reaosnable / aggressive, so far.

Wild card game - Scherzer disagreed with the hook, but he was inefficient, at 94 pitches in the 5th inning (had a huge bullpen to back him up too)

NLDS
Game 1 - Buehler into the 7th, 99 pitches
Game 2 - Urías pulled after 5 IP, but Dodgers had a 6-1 lead with a rested pen before an off-day (and an eye toward a short-rest start later)
Game 3 - Scherzer 7 IP, 110 pitches
Game 4 - Buehler started on short rest
Game 5 - Urías started on short rest, Scherzer closed it out

NLCS
Game 1 - Scherzer had only 1 day rest since his save, and Buehler/Urías would have been short rest again, so they gave Scherzer an extra day and decided to use their 9 relievers in a bullpen game
Game 2 - Scherzer pulled at 79 pitches in the 5th but this time, he endorsed the move (see tweet below), and they used Urías on his throw day to pitch the 8th inning too.

[Danchat]

Big comeback for the Dodgers today to keep the game interesting. Meanwhile, the Astros blew the game open in the 9th with a 7 run spot in a 2-2 game. 

[cHawk]

Today’s games:

ALCS Game 5 (Series Tied 2-2)
Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox
Time: 4:08 PM CDT
SP: Framber Valdez (Astros) vs. Chris Sale (Red Sox)
Venue: Fenway Park (Boston)
Broadcast: FS1
Odds: Red Sox -125, Astros +105

NLCS Game 4 (Braves Lead 2-1)
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 7:08 PM CDT
SP: TBA (Braves) vs. Julio Urias (Dodgers)
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Broadcast: TBS
Odds: Dodgers -210, Braves +175

[Otto von Ballpark]

I guess it will be Atlanta's turn to throw a bullpen game now.

Analyzing Braves' pitching plan for Game 4

Former Twins farmhand Huascar Ynoa could make his NLCS debut today.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This could be the last day of the year with two MLB games. Enjoy it if you can!

Saturday is still a potential two-game day, but it will require the Red Sox and Astros to split the next two ALCS games to force a Game 7, as well as requiring the Dodgers to win one of the next 2 in LA to force an NLCS Game 6.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

On 10/19/2021 at 9:39 AM, Otto von Ballpark said:

NLDS
Game 1 - Buehler into the 7th, 99 pitches
Game 2 - Urías pulled after 5 IP, but Dodgers had a 6-1 lead with a rested pen before an off-day (and an eye toward a short-rest start later)
Game 3 - Scherzer 7 IP, 110 pitches
Game 4 - Buehler started on short rest
Game 5 - Urías started on short rest, Scherzer closed it out

Actually, at the last minute, Knebel was switched to starter of that NLDS Game 5 for the Dodgers, and Urias entered the game in the 3rd inning.

(only a tiny nitpick but does support the idea of yanking around)

[Otto von Ballpark]

11 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Actually, at the last minute, Knebel was switched to starter of that NLDS Game 5 for the Dodgers, and Urias entered the game in the 3rd inning.

(only a tiny nitpick but does support the idea of “yanking around”)

Oh yeah. Don't know how I forgot that, it was big news at the time. You're right that it was unusual, although less so considering Urías was going on short rest and there was no DH (so he wasn't going deep no matter what, and pinch hitters were going to be in play early and often).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Dodgers pitching update: they pulled Buehler in the 4th yesterday at 76 pitches, but he was getting rocked that inning and they were facing a potential 3-0 series deficit. So I think that one makes sense.

I thought they made a questionable move later -- still down 3 runs, they used Evan Phillips in the 7th and 8th innings, and he's probably the last guy in their 9-man pen. (Phillips was left off both the WC and DS rosters, and he was their only reliever who didn't pitch in game 1 or 2 of the NLCS). Phillips managed to not allow a run, getting 5 outs around 3 baserunners (2 stranded by the next reliever), but with their season basically on the line, and with a fully rested pen after an off day, it seemed like a dangerous time to try eating innings. But it worked out for them, so what do I know?

[tony&rodney]

Did anyone else think Roberts had a frantic depressed look on his face in the bottom of the 8th inning down 2-5? Managers face some serious stress seemingly.

Meanwhile, Bellinger is swinging out of his shoes on a pitch low in the zone where he likes it and then again on a pitch right down the middle and then again at an unhittable high fastball and ..... bam, Roberts is healed. Baseball.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Something about that Bellinger home run reminds me of the Jim Leyritz home run in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series.

[LVTwinsfan]

Go Eddie!

[adorduan]

18 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Go Eddie!

He's on fire.  Good for him...

[adorduan]

Sure is fun to see Eddie having a great playoff so far. Hope the Braves win it all.....

[Otto von Ballpark]

Broadcast said that Rosario is the first player ever with two 4-hit games in a single LCS.

[cHawk]

Tonight’s game:

NLCS Game 5 (Braves Lead 3-1)
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 7:08 PM Central Standard Time
SP: Max Fried (Braves) vs. TBA (Dodgers)
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Broadcast: TBS
Odds: Dodgers -145, Braves +125

[Otto von Ballpark]

Dodgers SP update: Urías threw 92 pitches last night through 5 innings, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 5th, down 5-0. Final line 5 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 2 BB (1 intentional), 3 K, 3 HR. The pinch-hitter actually singled home 2 runs to cut the deficit to 5-2, but those would prove to be the only Dodgers runs of the game.

Tonight, facing elimination, the Dodgers turn to a bullpen game again, as they did back in game 1.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

It was just last October (2020) that Atlanta squandered a 3-1 NLCS lead vs the Dodgers. Although that was neutral site, with no off days.

2020 NLCS Game 5 actually saw both sides throw bullpen games, and the Dodgers prevailed to start their series comeback.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Atlanta lefty reliever Tyler Matzek has appeared in all 8 of their games so far this postseason, and he's only allowed runs (or inherited runs) in 1 of them.

8 G, 8.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 13 K, 3 inherited runners, all stranded

He had similar success across 8 postseason appearances last year, after spending most of 2018-2019 in indy league ball.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Is it a must-win tonight for... Atlanta? I’m thinking facing Scherzer and Buehler for Games 6 and 7 will be a tall order, even though they both appear to be fatigued.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

46 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Is it a must-win tonight for... Atlanta? I’m thinking facing Scherzer and Buehler for Games 6 and 7 will be a tall order, even though they both appear to be fatigued.

So... a must win game 5 for both teams, i take it.

 

Meh, There is no shame in losing.

 

Just more free time. (thanks, Twins!)

[Vanimal46]

Chris Taylor’s price tag went up a couple million bucks after tonight’s performance. 

[Doctor Gast]

Could some one tell me why Graterol didn't get the win in game 5? He pitched 2 innings through the 5th.

[Doctor Gast]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Chris Taylor’s price tag went up a couple million bucks after tonight’s performance. 

I've been a big advocate for the Twins trading for Taylor. He's a pretty good CF but I believe his strongest position is SS. He could've been gotten pretty cheaply. Now that he'll be a FA and another pretty good post season performance, he won't be cheap.

[Otto von Ballpark]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Could some one tell me why Graterol didn't get the win in game 5? He pitched 2 innings through the 5th.

Being the pitcher who finished the 5th inning only matters (for the win) if you are the starting pitcher.

Evan Phillips was the pitcher when the Dodgers took the lead for good. (And he wasn't a starter who failed to go 5 innings -- that was Joe Kelly.)

The only way that Phillips couldn't get the win is if the official scorer deemed his appearance "brief and ineffective." But Phillips retired all 4 batters he faced, 3 by K, with no inherited runners scored either. In a discussion at Twins Daily last year, official scorer Stew Thornley said: "A guideline for brief and ineffective is less than an inning and allowing two earned runs, including inherited runners, to score."

Graterol was arguably a little bit better than Phillips (6 up, 6 down, 2 K), but Phillips wasn't "brief and ineffective" so it doesn't matter.

Relief Wins explained at MLB.com

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I've been a big advocate for the Twins trading for Taylor. He's a pretty good CF but I believe his strongest position is SS. He could've been gotten pretty cheaply. Now that he'll be a FA and another pretty good post season performance, he won't be cheap.

Chris Taylor's trade value hasn't been cheap since 2016, when the Dodgers got him from Seattle.

Although if you mean the Twins should have acquired him at that time, I agree. It doesn't take hindsight to say the Dodgers made a good swap -- Taylor was a middle infielder who lacked HR power but had good AVG/OBP/K%/speed in the upper minors before scuffling a bit for Seattle. I'd rather take a chance on that guy than the pitcher the Dodgers gave up, a low-K minor league RH SP (albeit a former top 100 prospect / 1st round pick).

[Doctor Gast]

31 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Chris Taylor's trade value hasn't been cheap since 2016, when the Dodgers got him from Seattle.

Although if you mean the Twins should have acquired him at that time, I agree. It doesn't take hindsight to say the Dodgers made a good swap -- Taylor was a middle infielder who lacked HR power but had good AVG/OBP/K%/speed in the upper minors before scuffling a bit for Seattle. I'd rather take a chance on that guy than the pitcher the Dodgers gave up, a low-K minor league RH SP (albeit a former top 100 prospect / 1st round pick).

Back in 2016, I liked him and the Twins have needed a back up CF, SS and all round great utility player, especially after they got rid of Nunez & Escobar. I was very disappointed when Taylor wasn't included in the long Dozier negotiations and later in the Graterol trade.  Light hitting utility players are very underrated among many MLB teams including the Twins, therefore putting little value on them. Unfortunately Dodgers do, they constantly have a few true super utility players on hand. Taylor have developed good power through the years, especially when it counts.