2014 Post Season Thread

jack presley

Thread to discuss the playoffs...

Great start last night. Just watched the highlights this morning and it was back and forth all game. So much for the low scoring game that the experts were predicting. Let's hope it's an omen for things to come.

circular flexing

I think it's probably safe to say that's not what Billy Beane traded for Jon Lester for.

Coeus

circular flexing wrote: »

I think it's probably safe to say that's not what Billy Beane traded for Jon Lester for.

Definitely not. He didn't pitch well and was left in too long. The As may pay in the long run for going all in this year and not winning...

Waitsian

circular flexing wrote: »

I think it's probably safe to say that's not what Billy Beane traded for Jon Lester for.

Which is why I hate one off games. If the WC is now a thing for good, make it best of 3, the next round best of 5 and the final series and the WS best of 7. A one game decider makes a mockery of the game and the 5 man rotation, small sample sizes etc.

MoyVilla9

mod9maple wrote: »

Which is why I hate one off games. If the WC is now a thing for good, make it best of 3, the next round best of 5 and the final series and the WS best of 7. A one game decider makes a mockery of the game and the 5 man rotation, small sample sizes etc.

There's too many games in baseball already. The WC game is fantastic. You don't need to be in front of your TV for 5 straight nights. One game, guaranteed drama. I can only imagine that it has been a hit for the average sports fan.

Uncle_moe

Praying the Giants don't go all the way again. They have a knack post season winning though.
Bumgarner was good last night but the Pirates just never got going.

Uncle_moe

circular flexing wrote: »

I think it's probably safe to say that's not what Billy Beane traded for Jon Lester for.

Billy Beane “if we don’t have Jon Lester, I don’t think we make the playoffs.”
I guess he has to say that now.

Morrison J

Any predictions lads?

I'm thinking a Tigers-Nats World Series with the Tigers winning it out.

Looking forward to tonights games.

You just can't beat play off baseball.

jack presley

Morrison J wrote: »

Any predictions lads?

I'm thinking a Tigers-Nats World Series with the Tigers winning it out.

Looking forward to tonights games.

You just can't beat play off baseball.

If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on the Nats. They hit from top to bottom and their pitching has been great. Of course, anything can happen in the playoffs and they'll probably be swept by the Giants.

jack presley

Not a bad start for Nelson Cruz and Baltimore.

Early start in the morning so can't stick with it, but would love to watch this game. The atmosphere sounds amazing.

Morrison J

How could you leave this?

Unbelievable start!

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Not a bad start for Nelson Cruz and Baltimore.

Early start in the morning so can't stick with it, but would love to watch this game. The atmosphere sounds amazing.

Crowd willed that one out! Now the 2 Martinez boys have hit one out, might be a night for the long ball...

Uncle_moe wrote: »

Praying the Giants don't go all the way again. They have a knack post season winning though.
Bumgarner was good last night but the Pirates just never got going.

Well its an even year and the Giants have not lost a post season series under Bochy...

jack presley

Morrison J wrote: »

How could you leave this?

Unbelievable start!

I know. What a start. 3 homers already. I'm gonna stay for another inning or two

JohnHenry

I like the Nats aswell, good balance through out, great lead off man. So important to get that lead off guy on base to put a bit of doubt in the pitchers mind. I think the Giants losing Pagan is a huge blow for them but if Peavy pitches well in Game 1 and a few more step up with bumgarner, always a dangerous team. I think the giants real strength is the bullpen. Two great lefties in affelt and lopez and proven big game closer (now set up) in Romo.
should be a great postseason.

jack presley

I've never really wanted to live in the States but around this time of the year I always think to myself that I wouldn't mind being in the same time zone. Would love to have these games on at a more reasonable hour.

Anyone planning on doing a marathon stretch this evening and watching the 4 games? I'd love to give it a go but I don't think it would go down well and I'll get dirty looks but hopefully I'll get to see a couple of hours of the first 2 anyway.

JohnHenry

I'm planning a 5 hour NLDS session tonight from 8pm. Strasburg/Peavy followed by Wainwright/Kershaw, doesn't get much better than that

jack presley

Runs galore in Baltimore again!

For a season that was dominated by pitching, funny to see hitters having the best of things so far in the playoffs (small sample size admittedly)

jack presley

Detroit bullpen is a joke

MoyVilla9

Best day game in a long time.

Benimar

Delighted!

The Tigers Bullpen is a disaster. It's hard to see how they come back from this as they can't be comfortable handing over any lead to Joba, Soria et al.

MoyVilla9

Benimar wrote: »

Delighted!

The Tigers Bullpen is a disaster. It's hard to see how they come back from this as they can't be comfortable handing over any lead to Joba, Soria et al.

Joba has been a disaster for years. I don't trust him in any situation. Hughes has had a fantastic time since leaving New York. Joba is still Joba.

8-10

Would be nice to see theNats come back here. 3-2 down in the 8th

MoyVilla9

Vin Scully is the audio overlay option on MLB.tv.
I'll take some of that, thank you!

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Detroit bullpen is a joke

I didn't see the game but checking out the box score, why wasn't Sanchez left in

8-10 wrote: »

Would be nice to see theNats come back here. 3-2 down in the 8th

With this loss the Nats are kind of in a must win situation tomorrow with Bumgarner due to go in game 3...

MoyVilla9

Coeus wrote: »

I didn't see the game but checking out the box score, why wasn't Sanchez left in

Joel Sherman ‏@Joelsherman1 3h hours ago

Benimar

The Royals do it in extra innings again. That's 3 games in a row. The last two on HRs, even more remarkable as the were ranked last in HRs during the season.

If they were to finish the job, as an O's fan I'd be very pleased. If we keep winning we would have home field advantage in the ALCS and WS (if we get there).

Watch the Tigers win the next 3 after I post this!!

jack presley

Benimar wrote: »

The Royals do it in extra innings again. That's 3 games in a row. The last two on HRs, even more remarkable as the were ranked last in HRs during the season.

If they were to finish the job, as an O's fan I'd be very pleased. If we keep winning we would have home field advantage in the ALCS and WS (if we get there).

Watch the Tigers win the next 3 after I post this!!

That was a crazy night all around last night. Especially, the Dodgers/Cardinals game. Surely the Royals can't continue to win every game in extras can they?

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Surely the Royals can't continue to win every game in extras can they?

Maybe the Royals are the team of destiny this postseason. An O's v Royals series for the American league would be awesome

BigFatGiant

Nats and Giants had the longest game in mlb post season history last night. 18 innings and around 6 and half hours. Thankfully after all that the Giants got the win and I could finally go to sleep a happy man.

jack presley

BigFatGiant wrote: »

Nats and Giants had the longest game in mlb post season history last night. 18 innings and around 6 and half hours. Thankfully after all that the Giants got the win and I could finally go to sleep a happy man.

That looked like an amazing game alright. The Giants down to their final out and nearly winning it there and then but Posey gets thrown out at the plate. i see Matt Williams is getting killed in the press over taking out Zimmerman. I don't know, Storen hadn't given up a run in his last 17 save chances so I think he was just unlucky as opposed to it being a bad decision.

I love stupid stats and apparently Tanner Roark was 27 when he gave up the winning HR but 28 when the game ended.

I was only joking when I said

jack presley wrote: »

I'd put my money on the Nats. Of course, anything can happen in the playoffs and they'll probably be swept by the Giants.

but with Bumgarner going tomorrow, it might actually come true.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

That looked like an amazing game alright. The Giants down to their final out and nearly winning it there and then but Posey gets thrown out at the plate. i see Matt Williams is getting killed in the press over taking out Zimmerman. I don't know, Storen hadn't given up a run in his last 17 save chances so I think he was just unlucky as opposed to it being a bad decision.

If I'm Williams I'm leaving Zimm in there for one more batter. He is probably the hottest pitcher in MLB at the moment and was cruising. Bringing in Storen in that spot was questionable after what happened in 2012.

Must say the play-off games have been great so far. Raucous crowds, tight games and lots of extra innings

MoyVilla9

Detroit are in trouble.

jack presley

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Detroit are in trouble.

Apparently that's Cruz' 8th HR in 9 playoff games v Detroit.

BigFatGiant

Is this game blocked on mlb.tv? Im getting a black out restriction for this area.

jack presley

BigFatGiant wrote: »

Is this game blocked on mlb.tv? Im getting a black out restriction for this area.

When I select a game to watch it gives me the option of the U.S. feed or the International one. Is there a chance you're being diverted to the US one?

BigFatGiant

jack presley wrote: »

When I select a game to watch it gives me the option of the U.S. feed or the International one. Is there a chance you're being diverted to the US one?

I dont think so. I just tried it on 2 different devices says some games are blocked in countries outside of US and Canada. I'v never seen it happen before. Its been working fine for all other playoff games.

jack presley

BigFatGiant wrote: »

I dont think so. I just tried it on 2 different devices says some games are blocked in countries outside of US and Canada. I'v never seen it happen before. Its been working fine for all other playoff games.

That's strange. I'm on the iPad and had no problems once I selected International.

EDIT - just checked and there was an update to the app in the last day or so that 'fixed issues for international users'. Is there a chance your device is using an older version?

jack presley

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Detroit are in trouble.

A hint of a pulse now.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

A hint of a pulse now.

Woke the crowd up anyway and gives us an exciting finish...

jack presley

Coeus wrote: »

Woke the crowd up anyway and gives us an exciting finish...

Ah well. Not to be.

Coeus

jack presley wrote: »

Ah well. Not to be.

Buck Showalter showing why he'll be AL manager of the year.

Mike Trout showing why he'll be this years AL MVP. What a bomb to start but I think the Angels will need to hit tonight with CJ on the mound.

Benimar

That went as well as could possibly have been hoped for. A sweep to keep the starters fresh and KC winning to ensure the O's get home field advantage in the ALCS.

Maybe, just maybe....:D

MoyVilla9

jack presley wrote: »

That's strange. I'm on the iPad and had no problems once I selected International.

EDIT - just checked and there was an update to the app in the last day or so that 'fixed issues for international users'. Is there a chance your device is using an older version?

This. The iPad app kept blocking me out until I updated it. The Windows 8 app still won't work for me.

boccy23

I think the O's will win the AL and it will be an orange WS with the Giants winning through.

Really impressed with the Royals, but think that the O's will be too strong for them.

8-10

boccy23 wrote: »

I think the O's will win the AL and it will be an orange WS with the Giants winning through.

Really impressed with the Royals, but think that the O's will be too strong for them.

I agree with O's but I can't look past the winners of Dodgers v Cards for the WS title, both have the rotation to excel in a World Series

*rushes off to check the odds....

EDIT: Cardinals are 8/1! I'm all over that!

boccy23

Good result for the Cards last night.
Now going against Kershaw with 3 days rest.
Strange decision by Donnie Baseball. Would have thought he would have kept him for Game 5. IIRC he was slapped around last year by the Cards on short rest as well.

jack presley

boccy23 wrote: »

Good result for the Cards last night.
Now going against Kershaw with 3 days rest.
Strange decision by Donnie Baseball. Would have thought he would have kept him for Game 5. IIRC he was slapped around last year by the Cards on short rest as well.

Yeah I agree. They have to win both games 4 and 5 and Kershaw can only pitch one of them so it makes sense to put him out there on full rest.

It looks like over-managing again and caring what the press/fans will say if he sits game 4 and they lose.

EDIT - or they want to pitch Greinke in game 5 as opposed to Haren as it has just ben pointed out to me. D'oh!

BigFatGiant

8-10 wrote: »

I agree with O's but I can't look past the winners of Dodgers v Cards for the WS title, both have the rotation to excel in a World Series

*rushes off to check the odds....

EDIT: Cardinals are 8/1! I'm all over that!

Bet that 8/1 looks real good now!
Nats are at 15/2 at the moment. With Voglesong pitching for SF tonight and Lincecum probably his releif I can only see this heading back to DC all square with Zimmerman or Strasbourg to pitch in the decider. Unfortunately I think Giants missed their opportunity last night with Bumgarner making a poor error throwing to 3rd on what should have been routine bunt and throw to 1st. If the Nats do come through this and their starting pitching has looked very strong in this series (despite losing 2 of 3) I think that 15/2 will look very nice.

8-10

BigFatGiant wrote: »

Bet that 8/1 looks real good now!

Sure does, happy I got that on but long way to go. Also took a punt on Wainwright to be MVP @ 30/1

skippymac6

Well that was a shock. I thought that Kershaw was pitching very well (as he always does I suppose) and to get tagged like that was a complete surprise. What odds would you have gotten on Kershaw losing two matches in the NLDS before the start!?

Two slightly "shock" teams left in the AL while it's a familiar feeling in the NL with the Cardinals and Giants being so successful the past 5-6 years.

boccy23

I don't agree with it being a shock. Same thing happened last year. Kershaw lost on 3 days rest to the Cards. It's more deja vu than shock for me.
The Giants win on even years, 2010, 2012... So I expect them to win it again!!

Seriously, I think the AL is straight forward. O's have the more complete team, a defense which should limit the Royals running game and enough offense.

In the NL, I will stick by the Giants. They have the best manager and at this time of the year, that pays off. Not sure it counts as much during the 162 game season, but definitely in the post season. He has no issues with trying different things such as bringing Timmy in from the pen a couple of years ago.

Would love to see how Bochy matches against Buck in the WS.