MLB Post Season 2019

[mister d]

I can’t imagine him going much past the 4th if at all.

[Joe K]

The Cardinals winning yesterday was good because double-elimination games are fun. But it’s predictably annoying that Molina is getting so much hype for a bloop single and medium distance sac fly when it’s Goldschmidt and Ozuna who have been absolutely carrying the team and destroying baseballs all series. I know it’s small sample size and all that but between STL and Arizona, Goldy’s playoff numbers are pretty staggering.

[A_B]

What with him being in the Pacific timezone, I'd never seen Paul Goldschmidt play much. That dude just looks like a prototypical first baseman.

[mister d]

Gotta be lefty to be the prototype.

[A_B]

Gotta be lefty to be the prototype.

The jerk store called and they're out of the prototypical you!

[mister d]

I hit lefty.

[sancarlos]

Once it became clear the Yanks were going to win last night, the broadcasters were positively giddy contemplating how the extra game(s) might foul up the Astros' pitching rotation in the next series against New York.

[brian]

Once it became clear the Yanks were going to win last night, the broadcasters were positively giddy contemplating how the extra game(s) might foul up the Astros' pitching rotation in the next series against New York.

It really can't foul it up too bad. Even if they burn Verlander and Cole in Games 4 and 5 of DS, Game 1 of the ALCS is Saturday, so Verlander can pitch Game 2 on normal rest or Game 1 on short rest and Cole can pitch Game 3 on normal rest. Those two can still start at least four games on normal rest in the ALCS (assuming it goes 7).

Obviously, Houston would love to have those guys pitching Games 1 and 2 in some order on normal or extra rest, but it's not really as huge an advantage as it would be if the ALCS started Friday/Saturday.

[mister d]

I'd like to think that every start chips a little bit of a 36 year old pitcher away.

[A_B]

I'd like to think that every start chips a little bit of a 36 year old pitcher away.

Maybe not generational talents playing for the astros!

[L-Jam3]

I'd like to think that every start chips a little bit of a 36 year old pitcher away.

Which makes Randy Johnson's Years 35 through 40 seasons with Arizona that much more amazing.

[Giff]

I'd like to think that every start chips a little bit of a 36 year old pitcher away.

Which makes Randy Johnson's Years 35 through 40 seasons with Arizona that much more amazing.

It's cause of his two months with the Astros.

[psunate77]

Not an ideal start for Houston and JV.. Big worry is how bad Houston's bats have been. Brantley, Springer, and Correra have been crap.

[Rex]

I’m worried that this rooting for the Rays thing is going to turn out like the Democrats rooting for Trump in the primaries. If they can beat a first ballot HOFer by starting a middle reliever, what further damage can they inflict on the game in the next two rounds?

[EnochRoot]

Not an ideal start for Houston and JV.. Big worry is how bad Houston's bats have been. Brantley, Springer, and Correra have been crap.

The Rays have missed on two opportunities to blow this game open.

What may be crap is the notion to start JV on short rest when they could've used him as the hammer after Cole (both full rest) in G5.

[psunate77]

Don’t get sending Altuve

[EnochRoot]

Don’t get sending Altuve

Nah. That was a good send. It took two perfect throws with execution to nail him, and they only got him by like 6". Which is half Altuve's height, so I get your point.

[mister d]

I think this has been good so far.

[EnochRoot]

I think this has been good so far.

If the Astros don't have a legit 4th starter to have thrown this game (or in the next series), then they're paper tiger-ish.

Verlander was a risky proposition tonight.

[psunate77]

I think this has been good so far.

If the Astros don't have a legit 4th starter to have thrown this game (or in the next series), then they're paper tiger-ish.

Verlander was a risky proposition tonight.

They have Miley, but he was used in relief Monday

[EnochRoot]

I think this has been good so far.

If the Astros don't have a legit 4th starter to have thrown this game (or in the next series), then they're paper tiger-ish.

Verlander was a risky proposition tonight.

They have Miley, but he was used in relief Monday

They used Miley on Monday because they were using Verlander tonight.

[mister d]

I might start verlander in both games of a doubleheader before starting Miley in the playoffs.

[EnochRoot]

I might start verlander in both games of a doubleheader before starting Miley in the playoffs.

And Urquidy? Peacock? Yeah, I'd have started Verlander in all three games of a tripleheader. Beer League, even.

The Astros could've been down 9 runs if the Rays actually connected with some key hits. The first several hits given up by JV were all above 100 EV. Dude had nothing.

[psunate77]

I might start verlander in both games of a doubleheader before starting Miley in the playoffs.

I don't know.. JV career numbers aren't great on 3 days rest.. You could started Urquidy and brought JV in from the pen.

[mister d]

Cite? I thought I read he doesn't have a 3 day rest history.

[DSafetyGuy]

Cite? I thought I read he doesn't have a 3 day rest history.

He started on two days' rest once - 2011 ALDS Game 3, beating NYY, but giving up 4 ER in 8 IP (120 pitches, 11 K). He had only pitched the first inning of Game 1 in that series.

2017 ALDS Game 4, he pitched 2.2 IP in relief against Boston on three days' rest. ER, 2 BB, 0 K.

I'm a big Verlander fan, but meh.

[mister d]

I just don't see how any other option is better than Verlander short and Cole full especially given there's no goddamn way Verlander is getting pulled at the first sign of exit velo trouble. The less you use your shitty pitchers the better in a short series.

(Totally different if McCullers weren't hurt. He can win a game, with Miley or Urquidy, you're hoping they don't lose it before you go to the pen.)

[EnochRoot]

I just don't see how any other option is better than Verlander short and Cole full especially given there's no goddamn way Verlander is getting pulled at the first sign of exit velo trouble. The less you use your shitty pitchers the better in a short series.

(Totally different if McCullers weren't hurt. He can win a game, with Miley or Urquidy, you're hoping they don't lose it before you go to the pen.)

IMO, this was a case of Hinch underestimating the Rays ability to expose a 36 year old, heavily-worked Verlander on short rest, perhaps as much as revealing a lack of confidence in his lineup vs the Rays relievers they’d face in G4.

Oh and that Keirmeier > Adames > d’Arnaud play to nail Altuve was from another world. Not sure they make that play if they hadn’t already feasted on the carcass of Verlander though. I think there’s a certain fearlessness they gained during the game last night.

[mister d]

I actually said outloud "well there's one back" when it went into the gap. It was a 97th percentile relay anyway, but the announcers kinda failed to highlight that the Kiermaier throw was actually pretty high making the Adames transfer all the more impressive. Just really pretty baseball.

[EnochRoot]

Forget if I mentioned it, but my brother was at the game last night. I texted him a screenshot of the moment d’Arnaud tagged Altuve (tagging his knee as Altuve attempts to lower his hand to touch the plate (except the catcher’s arm is blocking his path). His phone got passed around a bunch.

[Rush2112]

Not a good half inning there.

[Joe K]

Snitker had pretty terrible setup for his rotation this series. Giving two starts each to Keuchel and Folty and only one to Soroka is inexcusable.

[mister d]

Cards should let Helsley close this one out.

[brian]

Glad I made a "disappointment bet" on the Cards today. Not even gonna have to sweat this one!

[sancarlos]

I told my wife the Cards were ahead 10-0 after one inning. She asked me if they have a mercy rule like they did in my softball league.

[mister d]

Glad I made a "disappointment bet" on the Cards today. Not even gonna have to sweat this one!

Is that what bets on teams you hate so atleast you get something out of it called?

[brian]

Glad I made a "disappointment bet" on the Cards today. Not even gonna have to sweat this one!

Is that what bets on teams you hate so atleast you get something out of it called?

That's what I call them, yes.

[Joe K]

Glad I made a "disappointment bet" on the Cards today. Not even gonna have to sweat this one!

Is that what bets on teams you hate so atleast you get something out of it called?

That's what I call them, yes.

I made those bets on the Patriots in last year’s AFCCG and Superbowl. Also my bets on the Warriors to win the last 2 titles were partially disappointment bets and partially that I thought they were a lock if reasonably healthy.

[Rex]

The Cardinals might want to pull some of their best hitters, and maybe even send them to the airport. This matchup is already such an unwritten rules dick measuring contest, and now that HBP on Acuna.

[degenerasian]

My favorite part is that a 10 run inning started with a sacrifice bunt.