[eradicator]

Fernando tatis ^^

[Diop]

This thread seems primed for a bump, now that the trade deadline has passed and we are getting closer to the home stretch of the playoff races.

Looking at the AL, things seem pretty clear-cut. Boston will easily win the AL East (a FOUR game sweep of the Yankees? Wow!) while Cleveland won't have any trouble taking care of things in the weak-ass Central. The West is somewhat more competitive, with my Houston Astros seemingly poised to take the division though Oakland and Seattle are proving to be worthy forces within the division.

AL Wild Card predictions - NY Yankees out of the East, while Seattle will come out of the West. Although the A's are currently in the lead for the second wild card and are on a huge hot streak, I have a feeling the Mariners will heat up once Cano comes back from suspension. The A's and M's play each other another 9 times, and I can see Seattle gaining ground from their head-to-head matchups coming up and (ultimately) overtaking the A's for the final wild card spot for their first playoff appearance since 2001.

Now looking at the NL - what a mess. Admittedly I'm more of an AL follower but I'll try making some predictions from what I've observed so far.

Starting with the NL East, The Phillies and Braves are all the rage right now while the Nationals are perpetual disappointments. I was originally going to make the bold prediction that the Nats would get hot throughout the next several weeks and climb their way back to the top of the division, but I'm having a hard time seeing it happen. It seems like there's always some sort of drama within their clubhouse and Harper is a 2018 headcase (.234 batting average?). I think will come down to the final week/weekend two series between Atlanta and Philly since they play each other 7 times in mid-late September. Coin flip for now, but I think the Braves will come out on top just as a gut feeling.

The NL Central - it's the Cubs to lose. I'm not a big fan of them but they should pull away from Milwaukee as the rest of the regular season rolls on. The Hamels trade was a really good one and if Darvish can come back with any sort of effectiveness, they'll probably finish with the best regular season record in the NL.

Then there's the NL West - lots of good teams here. I have some bias because of what happened in the World Series, but I think the Dodgers will win the division when it's all said and done. I know they have some injuries and their bullpen hasn't been as dominant as it was last year, but the Machado trade was a good one and they should have enough overall talent to outlast Arizona and Colorado (once again).

NL Wild Card predictions - so many possibilities here. I think the NL West teams might beat each other up a bit throughout the rest of the regular season so whoever doesn't win the AL East should grab one of these spots (I'll say the Phillies). That leaves either Milwaukee, Arizona, Colorado, or maybe even the Nats, Cardinals, or Giants as outside possibilities for the other spot as well. I'd like to see the Brewers sneak in there, but I think it'll probably end up being whichever NL West team performs the best outside of the Dodgers so I'll make a guess and say Arizona.

Way too early to predict how these teams will do in the playoffs, but those are my thoughts for now. Go 'Stros!

[Stirfry]

Pretty spot on analysis, though I’m keeping fingers crossed for my Nats. Looks like they may have finally started to hit, and Tanner Roark has come around a little, just at the right time with Gio Gonzalez suddenly forgetting how to throw a strike.

I think they can make a run at the division, but damn they really are disappointing this year.

[Stirfry]

Oh, but I disagree about the Mariners. Not sure why they get so much love- they are playing way over their heads, and have been incredibly lucky in one run games. Just look at their run differential!

[Diop]

(08-06-2018 05:13 PM)Stirfry Wrote:  

Oh, but I disagree about the Mariners. Not sure why they get so much love- they are playing way over their heads, and have been incredibly lucky in one run games. Just look at their run differential!

I can definitely see that perspective. All season Seattle has crushed it in the clutch and that one-run game record has to regress at some point. The A's absolutely destroy them as far as run differential goes and they seem to be on a huge roll themselves. The smart prediction is on Oakland making the playoffs, and if I was a betting man that's what I'd put my money on. Hell, they are on such a roll right now and my 'Stros are becoming so injury depleted that part of me worries the A's could even catch up and win the division outright if they stay this hot.

The reasons I (continue to) have an unusually good feeling about Seattle's chances are because I feel like their GM made a number of really good moves before the trade deadline that will start to pay off down the stretch, such as all of the decent bullpen arms they acquired. I thought getting Span from the Rays was a good move as well. Mainly though, it's the return of Robinson Cano next week that has me feeling (overly?) optimistic about their chances of turning things around and catching back up with the A's. Cano's bat as been badly missed, as has his presence in the locker room since Seattle is one of the younger teams in the league. My earlier prediction was based on the spark that Cano could provide when he gets back, although it's just as likely it'll take him awhile to get his stroke back and the team will continue to fade.

Either way it'll be a great playoff race and as much as I hate to admit it, I'd like to see Seattle make it to the postseason since they have the longest active drought in baseball.

Regarding your Nats, I should've added that I want to see them heat up because they still have enough talent to take out the Cubs in the playoffs if they can make it there. When you live in Chicago like I do and are surrounded by obnoxious drunk Cubs fans all summer and you're not one of them, it tends to make one root against them

[stugatz]

I am a Brewers fan. Last year we were comfortably in first place in our division until the All-Star break, then everything fell apart and we pretty much never got back into first.

This year has pretty much been the exact same thing - we had a 7 game losing streak in July, fell out of first, and now we are about a game behind the Cubs. Keeping pace sounds fine and everything, but that's where we ended last season.

It's very exciting to watch at least.

[Stirfry]

I don’t often watch the brewers (except for when they come to DC), but in my opinion they pulled off a good deal by getting Jonathan Schoop from the Orioles, even if it makes them have to shift the infield around a little. I think his recent struggles are just a slump, and he will eventually hit more like he did last year. I just don’t know if that will be enough to put them over the top against the Cubs.

[Stirfry]

Would like to start up this thread again, in light of my Nationals basically waving the white flag.

Any thoughts from Cubs fans about getting Murphy? He’ll hit the hell out of the ball, but just wait until you see him defensively at second.

[doc holliday]

Cubs-Red Sox World Series? Would be utterly epic. Ratings would be monsterous. Would be the NFL's worst nightmare.

[Diop]

(08-06-2018 05:13 PM)Stirfry Wrote:  

Oh, but I disagree about the Mariners. Not sure why they get so much love- they are playing way over their heads, and have been incredibly lucky in one run games. Just look at their run differential!

Looking back, I think you're right about this. The M's have a tough schedule the rest of the way and I never thought Oakland would keep this hot streak of theirs going for as long as they have.

At this point, I'm just hoping the Astros can out-duel the A's for the AL West. Those guys are scrappy. Nobody wants a one-game playoff vs. the Yanks.

[Stirfry]

I anticipated that the Mariners would fade down the stretch, but the Astros? No way- I thought they would run away with the division easily (of course, I predicted the Nats would take the NL East with no problems too). Although I still think Houston could hold their own against the Yankees or anyone else in a one game wild-card playoff just based on pitching.

And I agree- Red Sox/ Cubs would be crazy. I hate the Sox, but I admit it would be very good for baseball.

[Diop]

(08-24-2018 11:36 AM)Stirfry Wrote:  

I anticipated that the Mariners would fade down the stretch, but the Astros? No way- I thought they would run away with the division easily (of course, I predicted the Nats would take the NL East with no problems too). Although I still think Houston could hold their own against the Yankees or anyone else in a one game wild-card playoff just based on pitching.

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. The good news is just about all of the key players are now back and healthy (Springer is still sitting tonight, but is expected to be in the lineup over the weekend) so I do think the Astros will eventually hold off the A's for the division in the end.

A's/Yankees Wild Card game, that would be a good one.

Quick NL thought - how about them St. Louis Cardinals!!

[stugatz]

The Milwaukee Brewers are officially in the postseason and I could not be prouder. That is all.

[Chowder Head]

(09-26-2018 10:28 PM)stugatz Wrote:  

The Milwaukee Brewers are officially in the postseason and I could not be prouder. That is all.

And one of your guys might win MVP as well. They are a solid club.

[trippin_squares]

If deGrom doesn't win the NL Cy Young after tonight's performance it would be a fucking travesty.

Not that the rest of his team isn't already a travesty...

[Stirfry]

NL awards are pretty easy to figure out:

MVP: Yelich
Cy Young: deGrom
ROTY: Acuna

AL is a little tougher:

MVP: Betts
Cy Young: ?? I’m going with Snell
ROTY: Gleyber Torres

[trippin_squares]

(05-14-2018 04:46 PM)Kona Wrote:  

Oh man, when I was younger, I think I was in the navy. I went to a cardinals game in los Angeles. I like the Cardinals.

This guy on the the cardinals hit two grand slams in one inning. It was cool. His name was Fernando Tatis.

If you saw that game live, consider yourself a VERY lucky man, because you'll never see 2 grannies in one inning by the same guy happen again.

[puckerman]

I loved this article about Justino Clemente's visit to the Hall of Fame. He had NEVER visited there, and he's 91 now. He is the older brother of Roberto, who was killed on New Year's Eve in 1972.

https://www.lavidabaseball.com/justino-c...hof-visit/

[moneyshot]

Whether or not you agree with the interference call from the first inning, Game 4 of the ALCS last night was one for the ages.

[TigerMandingo]

This red sox team is unstoppable. They're gonna steamroll either the Brewers or Dodgers.

[questor70]

(10-19-2018 07:06 AM)TigerMandingo Wrote:  

This red sox team is unstoppable. They're gonna steamroll either the Brewers or Dodgers.

The Sox players compensate very well. Betts' bat has been cold, but then Jackie Bradley Jr. takes over. Betts, for his part, has still contributed with his glove. Likewise, when the pitching gets shaky, the fielding compensates. They also come through in clutch situations. Price had to be on-point tonight and he was. Kimbrel had to not choke, and he held it together well enough. Some of Cora's moves, to keep going back to inconsistent pitchers like Price (which is the Sox's weak spot) reflect a faith that he has in them, which in turn I think acts as a strong motivator. The net result is that the Sox tend to win in a scrappy rather than dominating fashion. The only time they dominate is when the hitting goes on a streak, which doesn't happen that often, and is less likely to happen in the post-season battling such good teams.

[TigerMandingo]

^ You're right, they are very resourceful. Regardless I think we are headed for a very lopsided WS. They're either gonna sweep or win in 5.

[moneyshot]

Br00 Cr00 just went off in the first inning of Game 6. Nearly batted around before Miley flied out. I can't watch the rest of the game but I sincerely hope they hang on and set up Game 7 tomorrow. The baseball fan in me wants the Brewers to get back to the Big Show for the first time since '82, but if they did I'd want them to win 100%... and I can't do that with the Sox on the flip side of that scenario.

Just based on the first inning, Brewers win tonight, Dodgers take it in 7.

[moneyshot]

(10-19-2018 08:16 PM)moneyshot Wrote:  

Just based on the first inning, Brewers win tonight, Dodgers take it in 7.

Sigh. Another "almost" year for Milwaukee.

Three days until the World Series though. Sale vs. Kershaw at Fenway. Two guys who are the top of the heap in their generation but have spotty postseason resumés... gonna be a fun one to watch.

[stugatz]

Milwaukee got further this time than in 2011, though, and didn't expect to get this far this year. (In 2011 they flat out went for broke.)

I think this spells a positive future for them. Maybe if the Dodgers beat Boston they'll stop beating up on Milwaukee so much. Remember that 21-5 disaster in early August?