2017 Playoffs Discussion

[sdn40]

I lijex leagues and divisions. Sometimes teams get screwed, sometimes teams get a break. It all evens out. I love competing against our rivals knowing that knew team will make it to the playoffs for sure. What sucked were the years when our division had 6 teams, AL West had 4 and all others had 5.

What really sucked is when the Brewers missed the playoffs for what seemed like a decade straight because the Yankees and their payroll ...were the Yankees. Of course this was back before most of you were born and phones were attached to the wall with cords on them and if you worse canvas Converse you were a dork. Just bought my daughter a pair of black canvas Converse high tops because they are now 'the bomb.'

One of my favorite memories back then was a Sports Illustrated article about Bambi's Bombers. You gotta remember our sports teams were always an afterthought - and with no internet - printed news was all you had and it was rare to see our teams featured. Anyway, in the article it was mentioned that when picking guys to represent in the All-Star game more than one player from opposing teams suggested just sending the entire Brewers lineup. Doesn't sound like much now - but it was awesome as a kid. Not a lot to hang your hat on back then.

Apologize for the sidetrack

[Prince12]

Would love a grand slam here

[Prince12]

wow

[MickeyDavis]

Poor Cubbies

[trwi7]

Lindor and Ramirez were terrible all series as was Kluber. Francona having Kipnis bat 2nd and play CF didn't help either.

[El Duderino]

Lindor and Ramirez were terrible all series as was Kluber. Francona having Kipnis bat 2nd and play CF didn't help either.

A five game series is such a small sample and it's not that uncommon for key players to struggle, dooming a team or requiring lesser players to pick up the slack. The Yankees a prime example, Judge didn't do much of anything, but guys like Gregorius and Hicks came through, along with a strong bullpen.

[Kerb Hohl]

Just give us Cubs vs. Yankees already. My own fandom/cheering has been most cursed in the MLB so it's just another series that I'd loathe in a long line of them.

[BUCKnation]

Cubs getting ridiculously lucky

[mnstinks]

**** terrible call. Conclusive my ass.

[BUCKnation]

I think he was probably out, but what is he supposed to do on that.

They scored 4 runs on non hits and get that type of call on a pot shot throw to 1st...

[trwi7]

There's no way he was "probably" out with how little time his foot was off the base and how little time the tag was applied. A lot of those are the tag is applied constantly throughout the slide making it easy. This was applied for a split second, maybe concurrently with his foot being off the base but no way to definitively tell.

That type of challenge needs to be completely done away with though. There's no way, with players moving as fast as they are that it's possible to keep a part of your body on base the whole time. Add in that defenders know they can steal an out by nudging a runner off the base for the split second they need and making it look like they didn't do it just heightens the issue.

That's not what replay was instituted for. It was to get the egregious calls out of the game (like Mauer's fair ball called foul against the Yankees in the playoffs), not this player slid into a base just ahead of the tag but his momentum carried him off the base for a split second while the defender held the tag (possibly applying enough force to take him off the base) and so he is therefore out.

[BUCKnation]

I don't know, I thought his foot was off and the tag was still on, but I agree with your thoughts about it being a dumb challenge. It should be a 'neighborhood' play like on DP's, where if you clearly beat the tag, you should be good unless you intentionally leave the bag.

[MickeyDavis]

First time in MLB history an intentional walk, strikeout'/PB, catchers interference and HBP happened in the same inning. And I think I heard it's only the 5th time every in the same game. Plus Werth losing the ball, pickoff at first. Should have been an easy Nats win.

Top 4 largest markets left, NY, LA, Chicago and Houston.

[Kerb Hohl]

First time in MLB history an intentional walk, strikeout'/PB, catchers interference and HBP happened in the same inning. And I think I heard it's only the 5th time every in the same game. Plus Werth losing the ball, pickoff at first. Should have been an easy Nats win.

Top 4 largest markets left, NY, LA, Chicago and Houston.

Also, Wieters was technically right in his complaint. When he got hit on the backswing of that strikeout/passed ball, the play should've been dead when he was hit on the backswing. I think play dead and nobody advances means the batter is out and inning is over but I'm not certain of that.

[MickeyDavis]

Get that stupid box off the screen during the pitch

[trwi7]

Get that stupid box off the screen during the pitch

I don't mind it at all. It's by far the best of the strike zone boxes and it's nice knowing how close a pitch is because cameras aren't centered on home plate.

[Profound23]

Good thing we didn't acquire Verlander, his career is over.

[coolhandluke121]

Eh, it would have been fun but in 2 years you'll probably be glad they didn't make any moves like that. Look at what the guys they traded for Greinke (Cain, Escobar, Odorizzi) and C.C. (Brantley) accomplished. That's like a high interest payday loan. You usually pay a lot of wins to have more up front.

[trwi7]

Different angle of Schwarber jumping for Puig's home run.

Watch on YouTube

[MickeyDavis]

Good loss Cubs