Official MLB 2018 Season Thread

[Deleted member 716271]

red sox have to be big favorite against either dodgers or brewers

 

[Feña14]

red sox have to be big favorite against either dodgers or brewers

My sister went to a couple of Dodgers games down the stretch (Rockies and Giants). She also spent 6 months in Maine a few years back and went to a few Red Sox games over the summer. Not sure who she would back in a Boston/LA World Series!

 

[Deleted member 716271]

My sister went to a couple of Dodgers games down the stretch (Rockies and Giants). She also spent 6 months in Maine a few years back and went to a few Red Sox games over the summer. Not sure who she would back in a Boston/LA World Series!

I think I would root for the Dodgers if they make it because I felt that they kind of blew it last year.

 

[Steve0904]

Price dealing in playoffs what alternate timeline are we in

And against JV as well. Baseball is just weird like that. Really happy for the guy actually. He always seemed nice, and for as bad as some of his starts have been I never felt like he deserved the goose egg. I think he's had 2 or 3 outings before this one where he was pulled at 4.2 innings or the bullpen lost it or something like that.

Plus he has a relief win with the Blue Jays from 2015 so it's not like he really was winless, just winless as a starter.

 

[stringertom]

Boston vs LA was GOAT rivalry for decades in the NBA. Now there's a chance for it in both MLB and the NFL this year and within sight after FA 2019 in the NBA again.

 

[Steve0904]

I agree on the extraordinary coordination .
I just find it super monotonous or humdrum

I always hated things that are humdrum

I get you. I love playoffs in any sport really, but baseball isn't for everyone. It really is a slow sport that's only truly exciting if your favourite team is winning, or if the game ends up being decided in the 9th or later IMO. And it suffers from the same problem tennis does in that there's no set end to the game so games can go 4 hr 33 mins. There's a fair bit of strategy involved, but when the strategy backfires it looks stupid. For instance, Counsell's usage of the bullpen in the NLCS has turned me off the Brewers. Hoping LAD can beat them for that reason only.

 

[hollywood9826]

Boston vs LA was GOAT rivalry for decades in the NBA. Now there's a chance for it in both MLB and the NFL this year and within sight after FA 2019 in the NBA again.

If that happens I will watch ESPN even less than I do now.

 

[hollywood9826]

They’re are building a new AAA baseball stadium near where I live for the new Vegas team ??
Should I check it out ?? The Vegas 51s I think
Capo frank has me busy on weekends making deliveries from Vegas to Chicago and I hate driving

AAA is good, tons of talent that are just barely not on the MLB team for various reasons (salary, Injury, talent). Pitching should be good, and the defense should be good. Minor Leagues sometimes do some wacky things from a promotion standpoint that can make things a little more fun sometimes.

The team was with the Mets but the Mets switched to Syracuse and the new Vegas team will be under the Oakland A's. Probably a better fit location wise and a greater chance to actual players from the Major League team on rehab assignments.

 

[hollywood9826]

I get you. I love playoffs in any sport really, but baseball isn't for everyone. It really is a slow sport that's only truly exciting if your favourite team is winning, or if the game ends up being decided in the 9th or later IMO. And it suffers from the same problem tennis does in that there's no set end to the game so games can go 4 hr 33 mins. There's a fair bit of strategy involved, but when the strategy backfires it looks stupid. For instance, Counsell's usage of the bullpen in the NLCS has turned me off the Brewers. Hoping LAD can beat them for that reason only.

Baseball is a terrible TV product, the camera cant capture the positioning of defense (which changes pitch to pitch) much less the atmosphere of the game. When an inning starts I have never really thought of the game as being slow. But the games do last a long time. Maybe a pitch clock would help (it seemed to in the minors) A lot of it is how slow it takes them to switch positions when 3 outs are recorded. Sometimes the actual inning will be 9 pitches take 1 minute and half and they take 3-4 minutes to switch sides (gotta get those commercials in).

Much like the NFL has changed and a guy like Nick Foles can win super bowls while putting up decent numbers. MLB teams are finding ways to win without having and ace or 2. The Bullpen strategy is not going away anytime soon, if Tampa would have made it would have been the same thing. Bullpens are probably here to stay

 

[Steve0904]

Baseball is a terrible TV product, the camera cant capture the positioning of defense (which changes pitch to pitch) much less the atmosphere of the game. When an inning starts I have never really thought of the game as being slow. But the games do last a long time. Maybe a pitch clock would help (it seemed to in the minors) A lot of it is how slow it takes them to switch positions when 3 outs are recorded. Sometimes the actual inning will be 9 pitches take 1 minute and half and they take 3-4 minutes to switch sides (gotta get those commercials in).

Much like the NFL has changed and a guy like Nick Foles can win super bowls while putting up decent numbers. MLB teams are finding ways to win without having and ace or 2. The Bullpen strategy is not going away anytime soon, if Tampa would have made it would have been the same thing. Bullpens are probably here to stay

I've seen the bullpen strategy in the last few postseasons, I don't mind it if Hader or Andrew Miller comes in the game in the 5th or something like that, but Counsell is on another level for taking a guy out after facing 1 batter, lol. That seemed to be a strategy on his part that Miley was ok with, but even in less extreme cases he seems to hook the starter (like Gonzalez) very quickly. Much more quickly than usual even in this "new" postseason where bullpens win games. I get that the bullpen is the strength of the Brewers and I can't really fault Counsell (except that I think he's kind of overusing his bullpen), but I don't like it. That's my problem not his I guess.

As far as baseball as a sport goes, I do find it slow, especially if I want to sit down for a few beverages and I don't know what time the game will end if you know what I mean. After you've had a few on the weekend days and you start getting a little sleepy there's no incentive to stay awake in the 4th inning like there might be in a timed sport like basketball or football. And work interferes too. Time zone is a problem for me though. Maybe the biggest problem of all. 8 PM ET is 9:30 here so a 3.5 hour game ends at 1 A.M, and obviously later the longer it goes.

But a pitch clock may help as you say. I'm finding in this postseason that catcher signs are being repeated a lot and there are many mound visits especially with guys on second. I know they only have 6 a game, but those are rarely exhausted. I think 3-4 would be more interesting. The biggest thing is that pitchers are just slow to pitch the ball. Not many of them have a quick pace as it is.

 

[T1000]

But a pitch clock may help as you say. I'm finding in this postseason that catcher signs are being repeated a lot and there are many mound visits especially with guys on second. I know they only have 6 a game, but those are rarely exhausted. I think 3-4 would be more interesting. The biggest thing is that pitchers are just slow to pitch the ball. Not many of them have a quick pace as it is.

I like a pitch clock because that’s the real issue lengthening games. The problem with a clock is if you step off you reset it. So it’s not really effective. They’ve been experimenting with it in the minors and the step off to reset happens a lot to the point that the clock is ineffective at shortening games. You’d have to limit step offs somehow for it to work

 

[hollywood9826]

The Miley thing was basically because he had to throw a bullpen session anyway why not just have him do it warming up give him a batter and take him for the actual guy that would start. Maybe penciling Miley made change Roberts change his lineup. But Roberts saw it coming and put his right handed batter lineup in despite of Miley being a lefty. This tactic was deployed in 1924 and Washington got what they wanted out of it. The giants pulled one of their best left handed hitters who then could gain the advantage against right handed relievers late in the game.

But you guys are right baseball is a terrible TV sport. I think a lot of it the stupid camera in behind the pitcher that just shows pitcher/batter/catcher/ump. There are so many more things that go on that the broadcast doesn't pick and announcers ignore. There is enough time between plays to show 7 replays and talk about it like football does, so when you look away maybe you miss something. Football is easy to watch and probably why tons of Americans love spending time doing nothing on a Sunday. Plus its winter and who wants to go out in the cold.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

And against JV as well. Baseball is just weird like that. Really happy for the guy actually. He always seemed nice, and for as bad as some of his starts have been I never felt like he deserved the goose egg. I think he's had 2 or 3 outings before this one where he was pulled at 4.2 innings or the bullpen lost it or something like that.

Plus he has a relief win with the Blue Jays from 2015 so it's not like he really was winless, just winless as a starter.

Yeah his other start in this series was one of those cruel 4.2 inning games where they ended up winning (and he'd have gotten the win with 1 more out)

 

[stringertom]

Finally a winner takes all playoff game! The SP matchup is not storybook legend vs legend but these two (Buehler vs Chacin) have been effective this last month. All arms on deck if either falters.

I'll take the Brew Crew but only by a run.

 

[clout]

Oh look, another Boston based sports team is in prime position to win yet another championship.

I envy you folks from Massachusetts, you guys have constantly been blessed with elite franchises in every sport for an eternity and needless to say, y'all are spoiled rotten

Boston's an awesome city to visit though

 

[T1000]

damn i had everything but the NL wild card right and then the brewers ruined my perfect series streak. gonna take the sox in 5

 

[stringertom]

Oh look, another Boston based sports team is in prime position to win yet another championship.

I envy you folks from Massachusetts, you guys have constantly been blessed with elite franchises in every sport for an eternity and needless to say, y'all are spoiled rotten

Boston's an awesome city to visit though

So an eternity is now two decades? Before the millennium it was just the Celtics in the 60’s/80’s and Orr’s Bruins before he wrecked his knee for two Cups in the 70’s.

 

[clout]

So an eternity is now two decades? Before the millennium it was just the Celtics in the 60’s/80’s and Orr’s Bruins before he wrecked his knee for two Cups in the 70’s.

Well all of their franchises in the "big four" North American leagues have won tons of championships in their existence.

All time record:
Celtics: 17 NBA championships (1st all time)
Patriots: 5 Super Bowls (T2nd all time)
Bruins: 6 Stanley Cups (T4th all time)
Red Sox: 8, maybe 9 by next week, World Series (T4th all time)

You have a point though, a lot of Boston's wins have come in the last 15-20 years, but for some reason Boston's dominance in sports since 2000 has felt like an eternity.
While my city, Toronto, has won nothing in over a quarter century now...and just 2 in last 52 years

I mean Toronto's won championships in the MLS, CFL, AHL and NLL but none of those are exactly huge leagues at all

 

[stringertom]

Well all of their franchises in the "big four" North American leagues have won tons of championships in their existence.

All time record:
Celtics: 17 NBA championships (1st all time)
Patriots: 5 Super Bowls (T2nd all time)
Bruins: 6 Stanley Cups (T4th all time)
Red Sox: 8, maybe 9 by next week, World Series (T4th all time)

You have a point though, a lot of Boston's wins have come in the last 15-20 years, but for some reason Boston's dominance in sports since 2000 has felt like an eternity.

My point is Boston long suffered for championship teams with the exception of the Celtics and the two Cups the Bruins won since expansion until the millennium.

Throw out the Bruins wins before expansion...they were dominated in The Original Six, as were the other three U.S. franchises, winning just 16 Cups from 1927 to 1967 combined and Detroit won seven of those 16. Montreal and Toronto pretty much swapped out titles after World War 2 except for the early 50’s when DRW was dominant with peak Gordie Howe.

Obviously the Red Sox epitomized being bridesmaids with the Curse of The Bambino. Only the Cubs suffered longer.

Boston/New England AFL/NFL football was pure futility until the millennium. The AFL Boston Patriots were a vagabond franchise playing in four different stadiums before Schaefer Stafium was hastily erected for the NFL New England Patriots. From the merger it took almost two decades to make their first SB appearance and they didn’t return again until 13 years later.

Boston/New England Strong is impressive from 2001 on. Before that they were pretty much a one sport championship town. Good teams but just not quite there.

 

[hollywood9826]

I was born in 1980 and only ever remember the Celtics being the good team and even then they were cursed in a way. Larrys back gave out then the drafted Len Bias who would have kept the team relevant for a while but he OD's and died. Then a few years later they had a guy pass out on the court during a playoff game to later die on the practice court the next preseason. So even the Celtics in way were "Cursed"

 

[stringertom]

I was born in 1980 and only ever remember the Celtics being the good team and even then they were cursed in a way. Larrys back gave out then the drafted Len Bias who would have kept the team relevant for a while but he OD's and died. Then a few years later they had a guy pass out on the court during a playoff game to later die on the practice court the next preseason. So even the Celtics in way were "Cursed"

“A guy” who died was All-Star Reggie Lewis, who left Baltimore’s Dunbar High School for the Boston area to be first a star at Northeastern and then the hopes for Celtic Nation in the 90’s.

 

[r2473]

Red Sox vs. Astros is the de facto World Series.

Dodgers will play the winner. And get crushed.

I guess I'll go with Verlander over Sale.

I'll say Red Sox in 4

 

[hollywood9826]

“A guy” who died was All-Star Reggie Lewis, who left Baltimore’s Dunbar High School for the Boston area to be first a star at Northeastern and then the hopes for Celtic Nation in the 90’s.

I know its bad but I get the reggies confused. Lewis, Theus and Williams, Williams I think even played with lewis at dunbar. I wont confuse them with Mugsy though.

I also have no idea why my stuff went italic halfway though.

 

[stringertom]

I know its bad but I get the reggies confused. Lewis, Theus and Williams, Williams I think even played with lewis at dunbar. I wont confuse them with Mugsy though.

I also have no idea why my stuff went italic halfway though.

I’ll never confuse model handsome Theus with the other Reggies. Pure West Coast roots, born in the shadow of the LA Forum and then on to slightly inland but still showtime-like UNLV and Tark’s Running Rebels.

 

[hollywood9826]

whatever happens in this world series I just hope Puig keeps hitting bombs and crotch chopping while rounding the bases.

Red Sox may start Betts at 2B for NL games to have JD in the lineup playing OF. JD is easily the worst defensive player in the this series if he sees the filed. But having him in the lineup needs to happen then they have guys coming off the bench that hit righties well and dodgers bullpen is pretty dominate right hand.

Red Sox should win, but maybe the dodgers tap into the KC royals win on their repeat trip

 

[stringertom]

whatever happens in this world series I just hope Puig keeps hitting bombs and crotch chopping while rounding the bases.

Red Sox may start Betts at 2B for NL games to have JD in the lineup playing OF. JD is easily the worst defensive player in the this series if he sees the filed. But having him in the lineup needs to happen then they have guys coming off the bench that hit righties well and dodgers bullpen is pretty dominate right hand.

Red Sox should win, but maybe the dodgers tap into the KC royals win on their repeat trip

Does Dodger Stadium have sun issues with 5 PM start times? That could compound Martinez’s struggle out there in early innings before sunset.

 

[clout]

My point is Boston long suffered for championship teams with the exception of the Celtics and the two Cups the Bruins won since expansion until the millennium.

Throw out the Bruins wins before expansion...they were dominated in The Original Six, as were the other three U.S. franchises, winning just 16 Cups from 1927 to 1967 combined and Detroit won seven of those 16. Montreal and Toronto pretty much swapped out titles after World War 2 except for the early 50’s when DRW was dominant with peak Gordie Howe.

Obviously the Red Sox epitomized being bridesmaids with the Curse of The Bambino. Only the Cubs suffered longer.

Boston/New England AFL/NFL football was pure futility until the millennium. The AFL Boston Patriots were a vagabond franchise playing in four different stadiums before Schaefer Stafium was hastily erected for the NFL New England Patriots. From the merger it took almost two decades to make their first SB appearance and they didn’t return again until 13 years later.

Boston/New England Strong is impressive from 2001 on. Before that they were pretty much a one sport championship town. Good teams but just not quite there.

Fair enough. Boston sports has experienced the highest of highs as well as lowest of the lows.

The lowest of lows for Boston is that the Celtics have won just one title since the mid 80's, Red Sox won 3 in the last 100 years (including an 86 year drought), and the Bruins have won just one cup since the early 70's and have experienced more late playoff heartbreakers than any other NHL team. Pats also never won anything prior to Brady and Belichek so there's that.

The highest of highs though is that all of their teams are in the top 4 in terms of most chips won all time in all 4 leagues and have had unprecedented success in every "major sport" since 2000. 5 Super Bowls, 3 World Series, 1 Stanley Cup and 1 NBA championship in a 15 year span is quite incredible

 

[stringertom]

Fair enough. Boston sports has experienced the highest of highs as well as lowest of the lows.

The lowest of lows for Boston is that the Celtics have won just one title since the mid 80's, Red Sox won 3 in the last 100 years (including an 86 year drought), and the Bruins have won just one cup since the early 70's and have experienced more late playoff heartbreakers than any other NHL team. Pats also never won anything prior to Brady and Belichek so there's that.

The highest of highs though is that they're in the top 4 in terms of most chips won all time in all 4 leagues and have had unprecedented success in every "major sport" since 2000. 5 Super Bowls, 3 World Series, 1 Stanley Cup and 1 NBA championship is in a 15 year span is quite incredible

Add in five Chips in The Frozen Four NCAA ice hockey competitions since the millennium and one each from nearby Providence and Yale. Definitely the hotbed of the millennium!

 

[clout]

Add in five Chips in The Frozen Four NCAA ice hockey competitions since the millennium and one each from nearby Providence and Yale. Definitely the hotbed of the millennium!

Pittsburgh's been quite a rich sports town too. The Pirates, Steelers and Penguins have all won 5+ championships and the Penguins have been beyond blessed with employing the talents of Lemieux, Crosby, Jagr, Malkin, Francis, Mullen, Recchi, Kessel, Coffey, Murphy, Fluery, etc. all in the last 25-30 years which is just crazy. The Steelers also have the most Super Bowls of all time.

 

[stringertom]

Pittsburgh's been quite a rich sports town too. The Pirates, Steelers and Penguins have all won 5+ championships and the Penguins have been beyond blessed with employing the talents of Lemieux, Crosby, Jagr, Malkin, Francis, Mullen, Recchi, Kessel, Coffey, Murphy, Fluery, etc. all in the last 25-30 years which is just crazy. The Steelers also have the most Super Bowls of all time.

Down decades for the Pirates and no NBA franchise will leave them a bit behind.

 

[clout]

Down decades for the Pirates and no NBA franchise will leave them a bit behind.

True that. I don't think the Pirates have been to the WS for a few decades now and I don't think Pit will ever get an NBA franchise as it doesn't seem too popular in Yinzer territory. The Steelers and Penguins are top tier organizations though

 

[stringertom]

True that. I don't think the Pirates have been to the WS for a few decades now and I don't think Pit will ever get an NBA franchise as it doesn't seem too popular in Yinzer territory. The Steelers and Penguins are top tier organizations though

The NCAA U. of Pittsburgh BB program has been fairly strong with four Big East titles before joining the very strong ACC. They regularly sell out a 12K capacity arena.

Basketball has always been the sport local youths turn to after football season. In fact, one legend from the area first considered enrolling at NC State to play both football and basketball, the second sport but the one he won a state title at high school level. In the end, Joe Montana chose Notre Dame and football only. You know the rest of his story.

Pittsburgh won’t be in any expansion plans though. First up is Seattle and deservingly so. Then I think they go to Lost Wages to be the third leg of pro sports in Sin City.

 

[stringertom]

Bosox are bruising Kershaw after 1B Freese gave them an extra out right away by not catching a foul pop by leadoff hitter Betts. Three singles later and it’s 2-0.

Martinez gets picked off to kill the rally before a caught pop up. 2-0 after one.

Kershaw is a mere shadow of his best years velocity wise. If he doesn’t locate he’s toast vs these bats.

 

[stringertom]

Matt Kemp cuts the lead in half on a two-strike solo dinger over The Green Monster. 2-1 Boston after 1.5.

 

[stringertom]

The second time around vs Sale goes much better with three consecutive one-out singles by Turner, Freese and Machado producing the tying run and two are on for Taylor.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Good game so far!

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Season JD Martinez seems to be making an appearance. If that's the case the Dodgers are in deeper trouble than they already were

 

[stringertom]

Boston grabs a 3-2 lead on a double by Martinez that scored Pearce with two out after the first baseman beat out a relay throw on a potential DP.

Kershaw rebounded the next inning for 2 Ks and a groundout.

Sale walks the leadoff batter in the fifth and Cora yanks him after 91 pitches. A ND for him due to just four frames pitched or if the runner scores. The Dodgers lineup made him work.

 

[stringertom]

Turner greets reliever Barnes and after a K by Freese both runners moved up on a WP and Dozier then scored on a laser groundout up the middle by Machado. A can of corn to right by pinch hitter Bellinger ends the top of the fifth. 3-3.

 

[stringertom]

Game of inches and interpretation by the umpires not just on balls and strikes...a pitch grounded near the third base bag by Betts is ruled foul but replay sure looked like it crossed over the bag; instead of an out on a good play by Turner the at bat continues and Betts drew a walk. Now he’s on second after a single by Bradley and Kershaw is yanked. Reliever Madson opens with a WP and a big inning is on the way.

 

[stringertom]

A walk is backed up by a clutch 3-pitch K of Martinez.

 

[stringertom]

Bogaerts beats out the relay throw on a potential inning-ending DP. Boston 4-3 on a closer play than the previous blown call overruled.

Devers delivers a single to right and it’s 5-3. All five runs are charged to Kershaw as his postseason struggles continue.

A fly ball to right ends the inning.

 

[stringertom]

Dodgers closed to 5-4 before a questionable move by Roberts pulling reliever Baez after he got two Ks in a hold situation. Alex Wood promptly gives up a 3-run dinger to Eduardo Nunez pinch hitting. 8-4 Boston.

 

[hollywood9826]

True that. I don't think the Pirates have been to the WS for a few decades now and I don't think Pit will ever get an NBA franchise as it doesn't seem too popular in Yinzer territory. The Steelers and Penguins are top tier organizations though

I cant think of any rich guy from pittsburg who could buy an NBA team from another city then with the help of the league screw the current city over to move it.
Pittsburgh would be great city for NBA basketball right behind Seattle and Kansas City as far as cities that don't have teams in my book.
Pitt metro area is a pretty alarge area with about 2.5 million peeps making it 26th in the nation and bigger than a couple places that have teams already (OKC, Milwakee come to mind).
Between U of Pitt and WVU the precedent of supporting college basketball is there. Morgantown is less than 2 hours away from Pitt and I'm sure plenty of college kids would make a trip to get hammered and watch some NBA.
OKC had no business ever getting team but I'm sure had a retirement kicker in their from Clay to make it so.

Of course tat means when the NBA eventually expands the teams will be in montreal and mexico city

 

[stringertom]

I cant think of any rich guy from pittsburg who could buy an NBA team from another city then with the help of the league screw the current city over to move it.
Pittsburgh would be great city for NBA basketball right behind Seattle and Kansas City as far as cities that don't have teams in my book.
Pitt metro area is a pretty alarge area with about 2.5 million peeps making it 26th in the nation and bigger than a couple places that have teams already (OKC, Milwakee come to mind).
Between U of Pitt and WVU the precedent of supporting college basketball is there. Morgantown is less than 2 hours away from Pitt and I'm sure plenty of college kids would make a trip to get hammered and watch some NBA.
OKC had no business ever getting team but I'm sure had a retirement kicker in their from Clay to make it so.

Of course tat means when the NBA eventually expands the teams will be in montreal and mexico city

OKC was rewarded for “adopting” the Katrina-ravaged New Orleans franchise while things returned to normal in The Big Easy. That “test run” showed the burg would support NBA play.

 

[hollywood9826]

Cora has the magic wand right now. Its seems whatever move he makes works out as best as possible. he puts a guy into pitch hit which in itself is not a shock, but the guy hits a freaking bomb on a shin high pitch.
They are getting the luck breaks, and mircialuious breaks onto of being more talented. Looks like its shaping up to be one of those special years.

 

[T1000]

david price with a gem tonight. he's been on fire since evan roberts started talking sh*t lmao. I wonder if cora was thinking about him every time price stuck someone out

 

[Big_Dangerous]

OKC was rewarded for “adopting” the Katrina-ravaged New Orleans franchise while things returned to normal in The Big Easy. That “test run” showed the burg would support NBA play.

I remember that. I believe that's when they still had Chris Paul and were known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

 

[stringertom]

Boston should vote a full share to Dave Roberts for helping them win another WS. A night after bringing Madson in to see him throw balls not strikes he does it again. Baez blew them away last night and was available after getting yanked too early. smh

 

[Raul_SJ]

Boston should vote a full share to Dave Roberts for helping them win another WS. A night after bring Madson in to see him throw balls not strikes he does it again. Baez blew them away last night and was available after getting yanked too early. smh

Madson was pitiful. Ugly to be walking in a run. This had to be viewed as a must win game. All hands on deck. Put in the closer if you have to.
This series sucks. Will go and watch replay of Astros/Dodgers 2017,