MLB Playoffs

[princekwekua]

Wild Card Round

The new format of a 3-game wild card series debuted with some dramatics.
The Blue Jays led the Seattle Mariners 8-1 in Game 2 of the wild card round. Catherine McDonald of Global News caught a ball and tweeted it was a good luck charm. Alas, she spoke too soon. The Blue Jays conspired to blow that big lead, loosing 10-9 and getting swept away 2-0 at home. It was one of the ugliest losses in baseball history.
The New York Mets, the team with the highest payroll in baseball, did not survive the wild card round, succumbing to the SD Padres 2-1.
The Phillies scored 7 runs in the top of the 9th in Game 1 against the Cardinals winning the first game and eventually won the round 2-0.

LDS
The Houston Astros were down 7-5 in the bottom of the 9th. Then Yordan Alvarez stepped up to the plate and smoked a 3-run walk off home run to stun the Seattle Mariners 8-7. It evoked memories of great post season home runs of the past.

Astros stun M's as Alvarez walk-off caps wild rally

Yordan Alvarez smashed a game-ending, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Robbie Ray to lift the Astros past the Mariners 8-7 in Game 1 of their best-of-five Division Series.

www.espn.com

Yankees against the Guardians (ugly name). Josh Donaldson of Blue Jays fame hit a ball and went into a home run trot. Nooo, it wasnt a home run. It bounced against the wall and he was thrown out scampering from first to second. He flipped a bat to acclaim by Jays fans. But this one will live in infamy. Fortunately, it didnt cost the Yankees as they won 4-1. Yankees setting up against their nemesis Astros.
The Phillies continue their hot post season run, rolling over the Braves.
The Dodgers won again against the Padres. That team is loaded from top to bottom. They look unstoppable in the NL.

 

[unassuming]

The Mariners pulled a "Toronto Blow Jays", LOL

 

[princekwekua]

Braves, Phillies and Dodgers/Padres both tied at 1-1. Great talent on all 4 teams. Hope both series go to 5 games.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Yada, yada...

Yankees against the Guardians (ugly name). Josh Donaldson of Blue Jays fame hit a ball and went into a home run trot. Nooo, it wasnt a home run. It bounced against the wall and he was thrown out scampering from first to second. He flipped a bat to acclaim by Jays fans. But this one will live in infamy. Fortunately, it didnt cost the Yankees as they won 4-1.

...yada, yada.

I didn't see the game, but I saw the highlight video. Is it possible that a fan touched the ball before it hit the top of the wall? I couldn't make a definitive call on that, from what I saw.

If the Yankees had lost that game, and if George Steinbrenner still owned the team, the first base coach would have been fired by now. It was his responsibility to let Donaldson know that the ball was still in play. instead of doing that, he gave him a handshake. It's not as if the first base coach has a lot of responsibilities after a ball is hit. Other guys who have similar responsibilities: the pit crew member who holds the 'lollipop' in a Formula 1 pitstop, or a member of the Canadian Senate.

 

[onomatopoeia]

It was Jose Bautista who was famous for the bat flip in the 2015 playoffs against Texas, not Donaldson.

I thought the Guardians name was pretty bad myself until I investigated and discovered that it actually has some local meaning - it's a reference to statues on the side of the entrance of the Hope Memorial Bridge (named after Bob Hope's father, who was from Cleveland and was a stone mason) in downtown Cleveland. The story is that the statues are the Guardians of Traffic, watching over drivers and passengers as they enter the bridge. So we might think it's kind of dumb. but people in Cleveland get the name, the bridge isn't far from Progressive Field (the Guardians home park) and the team logo features (in a way) the head pieces the statues wear.

View attachment 178835

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Cleveland Rocks would have been a good name, too, but more likely for an Arena Football team.

Bob hope made a killing buying desert real estate around Palm Springs, California for two cents an acre in the 1930's.

 

[princekwekua]

It was Jose Bautista who was famous for the bat flip in the 2015 playoffs against Texas, not Donaldson.

I thought the Guardians name was pretty bad myself until I investigated and discovered that it actually has some local meaning - it's a reference to statues on the side of the entrance of the Hope Memorial Bridge (named after Bob Hope's father, who was from Cleveland and was a stone mason) in downtown Cleveland. The story is that the statues are the Guardians of Traffic, watching over drivers and passengers as they enter the bridge. So we might think it's kind of dumb. but people in Cleveland get the name, the bridge isn't far from Progressive Field (the Guardians home park) and the team logo features (in a way) the head pieces the statues wear.

View attachment 178835

View attachment 178837

Thanks for the correction on the bat flip. Background information on the name appreciated as well

 

[princekwekua]

Yordan Alvarez of the Astros strikes again against the Mariners. He is the second person in MLB history to hit a go ahead home run in consecutive games in the playoffs after the 6th inning. Astros 2-0 and one win away from the ALCS.

Yordan is a defector from Cuba who first signed with the Dodgers, who traded him to the Astros for a non decrepit reliever. Dodgers regretting that move big time. His parents first saw him play professionally in August this year at the All Star game.

The Astros are a great team. But will the cheating scandal continue to haunt them?

 

[princekwekua]

Guardians 4 -2 Yankees in 10 innings. Series tied 1-1. The Judge struck out 4 times today. And he was on the receiving end of loud Bronx cheers. He is hitless in the series so far.

 

[princekwekua]

The Dodgers were stifled 2-1 by the Padres and are down 2-1 in the series as well. We shall see what they are made of as they stare down the barrel of elimination.
The Phillies bashed the Braves 9-1 and are up 2-1 in the series also.

Redskins, Indians - loud protests against those names forcing changes. And yet the Braves carry on without protests. Dont understand that double standard

 

[princekwekua]

Bruce Sutter passed away of cancer yesterday. He was 69. Dominant Cardinals relief pitcher made it to the HOF without starting a single game. It was lights out when handed the ball late in games during his career. May he Rest In Peace. His era was when starting pitchers were supposed to pitch to long innings and hand over to a relief pitcher to close out. Starting pitchers these days do about 6 innings (if that). Very few work horses now which, to be frank, is great. Rotator cuff injuries have declined significantly as a result.

 

[Toronto Passions]

The Dodgers were stifled 2-1 by the Padres and are down 2-1 in the series as well. We shall see what they are made of as they stare down the barrel of elimination.
The Phillies bashed the Braves 9-1 and are up 2-1 in the series also.

Redskins, Indians - loud protests against those names forcing changes. And yet the Braves carry on without protests. Dont understand that double standard

….and they’re doing it without Fernando Tatís.

Come on Dodgers. I’m totally rooting for the Dodgers. I cringe every time I look at smart nose, punk ass, dirty player, Machado’s face.

Philip

 

[princekwekua]

….and they’re doing it without Fernando Tatís.

Come on Dodgers. I’m totally rooting for the Dodgers. I cringe every time I look at smart nose, punk ass, dirty player, Machado’s face.

Philip

Dodgers knocked out. Sorry, Phil. Leading 3-0, they gave up 5 runs to the Padres in the bottom of the 7th. The highlight (or lowlight depending on your perspective) was when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts changed pitchers in the middle of an at bat. The new pitcher promptly gave up a run scoring hit. Bone headed call, that. 111 wins in the regular season by the Dodgers meant nothing. Puff, gone at the hands of the Padres who won just 89 during the regular season

 

[princekwekua]

Baseball has the most electrifying post season in all sports. Every at bat can result in game changing outcome with fans screaming at the top of their lungs. And yesterday was the best day of all. 4 Playoff series in one day. Wow!

Phillies won one game in Atlanta and swept the 2 games at their home stadium, knocking the Braves out. Those sea of red towels looked like hell on earth. Bryce Harper is earning every bit of his monster contract. Phillies against Padres is not the anticipated NLCS matchup. But that's what we got. Have no idea who is the favorite.

Astros punched their ticket to the ALCS with a 1-0 18 inning marathon game for the ages. Each team used 7 relievers and they all delivered. A home run by Pena in the top of the 18 was the difference. Great game for the purists. Astros the favorite whether they face the Guardians or the Yankees.

Speaking of the Yankees, The Judge finally broke out of his slump with a 2-run homer. The Yankees have never surrendered a multi-run lead in the 9th inning in 167 post season games (ESPN stat). Then came yesterday. Leading 5-3, the Yankees surrendered 5 itsy bitty singles to the Guardians resulting in 3 runs. Guardians 6 Yankees 5 for a 2-1 series lead. The Yankees scored half of their runs during the regular season from home runs and yesterday all their 5 runs came from home runs. That is not a formula for success during the post season and I dont see them making it past the Guardians who rely on contact hitting, great starting pitching and an even better bull pen.

 

[bemeup]

Let’s hope Canadian boy Cal Quantrill can outduel meanie Gerrit Cole today and send the Yankees packing.

 

[Ref]

Let’s hope Canadian boy Cal Quantrill can outduel meanie Gerrit Cole today and send the Yankees packing.

That would be great.

The three biggest horses in the NL are now eliminated. It would be nice to see the Young Cleveland team make it to the series.

A Cleveland/Padres series would be great.

 

[shack]

That would be great.

The three biggest horses in the NL are now eliminated. It would be nice to see the Young Cleveland team make it to the series.

A Cleveland/Padres series would be great.

Maybe not for ratings.

I'm sure the league was hoping for Dodgers/Yankees first, then Yankees/Braves and then Dodgers/Houston.

 

[Toronto Passions]

Dodgers knocked out. Sorry, Phil.

Now we all get to keep looking at Machado‘s whinny $30 million a year face every time there’s a close call strike.

Philip

 

[princekwekua]

Josh Naylor of Cleveland went into a home run celebration swinging interlocked arms back and forth. I thought it was celebration of pregnancy which is used mostly by soccer players. But no. He was saying he owned Cole. That was the most bush league celebration ever. I am glad the Guardians lost and hopefully they are booted out by the Yanks. Gosh!

 

[princekwekua]

That would be great.

The three biggest horses in the NL are now eliminated. It would be nice to see the Young Cleveland team make it to the series.

A Cleveland/Padres series would be great.

You are rooting for nightmare of advertisers West coast audience implodes with Dodgers out. Yankees survived and gives hope East coast audience can be salvaged

 

[Ref]

You are rooting for nightmare of advertisers West coast audience implodes with Dodgers out. Yankees survived and gives hope East coast audience can be salvaged

It would be good for the game if the "rich" teams are eliminated and other teams have the opportunity to win.

Baseball is becoming boring with the same old teams generally winning and fan interest has got to be low in the small markets.