2023 MLB Postseason Discussion

[dlk9s]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

So you are saying that the Brewers offense was pretty good this year and better than the Braves and Dodgers? 

You know that's not what he's saying. Come on.

[owbc]

Most of the complaints sound like whining from the big markets. Out of the 4 teams in the LCS, the Diamondbacks are the only one that are a true surprise to anyone paying attention, and the Dodgers put up such a pathetic performance in the NLDS that nobody in their right mind would expect them to have won a series of any length against the Diamondbacks. They cobbled together a pitching rotation and then failed to score off Brandon Pfaadt.

The thing about playing 162 games is that it's been a long, long time since April and May. If you ask the Texas Rangers, I bet they would say it's been a long, long time since their inexplicable collapse in August.

And the two defending league champions advanced, both of which returned basically the same teams that won the pennant last year. On what planet is either of those two teams winning an upset??? 

[tmwiese55]

On 10/12/2023 at 7:56 AM, Bulldogboy said:

The Dodgers seem to sign everyone but they let Seager get away who was a home grown stud. Gm should be on the hot seat.

And then get Trea Turner to replace him.  Only to not re-sign him as well.   Not sure what the thoughts were there, only thing I could think of is wanting to save that Turner/Seager money/contract for Ohtani while trying to get under the tax thing.

TBF, they've also gotten really unlucky with pitching injuries (May, Buehler) along with Kershaw often regressing in playoffs.   The Dodgers pitching situation is one of the thing that had me cautiously optimistic this postseason.  Unfortunately we got unlucky getting AZ instead of MIA. 

[Brewcrew82]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

So you are saying that the Brewers offense was pretty good this year and better than the Braves and Dodgers? 

You go right ahead and be content with the offense we continue to put on the field year in and year out, good for you, finding the positive in things even though it makes no sense to post such a comment.

 

Totally not my point or what I was saying, but go on.

[owbc]

22 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

And then get Trea Turner to replace him.  Only to not re-sign him as well.   Not sure what the thoughts were there, only thing I could think of is wanting to save that Turner/Seager money/contract for Ohtani while trying to get under the tax thing.

TBF, they've also gotten really unlucky with pitching injuries (May, Buehler) along with Kershaw often regressing in playoffs.   The Dodgers pitching situation is one of the thing that had me cautiously optimistic this postseason.  Unfortunately we got unlucky getting AZ instead of MIA. 

Yeah we were well-positioned for another NLCS run if we had drawn the Marlins. Unfortunately I think the NLCS was probably our ceiling after Woodruff went out and the inevitability of running into either the Phillies or the D'backs in the NLCS. 

[torts]

this was our year to beat the dodgers.  their rotation was just blah!  

[Thurston Fluff]

19 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

Or maybe we can just contract the teams that aren't deserving out of the playoffs instead of rewarding mediocrity and watering down the postseason. Just go back to the four team in each league format.

I fail to see how fewer teams in the playoffs helps more teams have a chance to win it all in the playoffs.

[HarryDoyle]

21 hours ago, markedman5 said:

You know baseball is a business right?
They benefit financially when more teams have a chance to make the post season…….just like the NFL and the NBA…more fan bases engaged in September……more excitement ….its also why the NCAA tournament has at large bids and not just conference champions.

Do you think MLB is thrilled with the very real prospect of a D-Backs-Rangers World Series? Last year's World Series drew the second lowest ratings ever and we might get that matchup again, only this time the teams will be guaranteed to have 90 or less wins on the season, which has never happened in a strike/covid shortened season. 

[HarryDoyle]

2 hours ago, Thurston Fluff said:

I fail to see how fewer teams in the playoffs helps more teams have a chance to win it all in the playoffs.

That's the point. With this expanded playoffs format we are now guaranteed to have a World Series with two teams that failed to win more than 90 games. Whoopie!

[Thurston Fluff]

On 10/13/2023 at 5:16 PM, HarryDoyle said:

That's the point. With this expanded playoffs format we are now guaranteed to have a World Series with two teams that failed to win more than 90 games. Whoopie!

Who cares? Now fans of teams that field good but not great teams have a reason to cheer. All season long they know all they have to do is get in and there's a legitimate chance to win. I'm pretty sure most fans would exchange seeing the two best regular season teams in the World Series to know they have a better chance to see their team play in it. If the point is to have the two best teams play the World Series just put the two best teams in the World Series and skip the playoff altogether.

[Brewcrew82]

I really don't understand Dusty Baker's stubbornness in playing Maldonado over Diaz. In a series that's looking as close as this one is, that could very well cost them. 

[torts]

On 10/14/2023 at 10:05 AM, Thurston Fluff said:

Who cares? Now fans of teams that field good but not great teams have a reason to cheer. All season long they know all they have to do is get in and there's a legitimate chance to win. I'm pretty sure most fans would exchange seeing the two best regular season teams in the World Series to know they have a better chance to see their team play in it. If the point is to have the two best teams play the World Series just out the two best teams in the World Series and skip the playoff altogether.

[Brewcrew82]

17 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I really don't understand Dusty Baker's stubbornness in playing Maldonado over Diaz. In a series that's looking as close as this one is, that could very well cost them. 

It certainly did there.

[Underachiever]

At this point, I'm an "anybody but Houston" guy. Good to see the Rangers shut them down last night. Then we can maybe get the Arizona-Texas matchup that everyone predicted back in...well, never.

[tmwiese55]

I find it odd so many people and the general narrative is that it is bad that mediocre teams getting upsets and possibly winning it all.   I'm someone who's generally been against college football expansion of playoffs basically due to the fact that the 2-4 team format rewards regular season and is one of the best formats in sport to actually have the best team win the championship. Essentially everyone bashed it for 20 years but in reality it was probably the highest hit rate of the actual best team winning.  So for years I've been told I'm an idiot for that take, since CBB Tourney is so great, upsets are fun, give everyone a chance to settle it on the field, etc.    Just weird that people flip flop based on what sport it is. 

For baseball, the four teams on each side they had for years seemed to be a good enough balance and I wouldn't have changed it.   What they did has helped the regular season though, I'll grant that so it's not like I'm too upset about it. But if the end of season tournament is supposed to crown the best team it is a big negative there especially in a sport like baseball so prone to flukiness. 

[RobertCrawley]

Which is the best percentage hitting team in the 2023 postseason so far?

[Brewcrew82]

What we need is a hitter like Yordan Alvarez. 

[owbc]

It turns out that spending big money in free agency does work, assuming you spend it on the right guys and compliment what you already have. 

 

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

Which is the best percentage hitting team in the 2023 postseason so far?

Entering today it’s the Phillies at 137 wRC+.

Brewers hit 309/385/382 (114 wRC+).

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Entering today it’s the Phillies at 137 wRC+.

Brewers hit 309/385/382 (114 wRC+).

Need power. 

[Brewcrew82]

Brewers went 7-2 against the Phillies and Rangers during the regular season....

[Bulldogboy]

Phillies are just incredible. Especially in that park. Everything hit hard goes over the fence.

[Brewcrew82]

9 minutes ago, Bulldogboy said:

Phillies are just incredible. Especially in that park. Everything hit hard goes over the fence.

I think this is going to be a sweep. If Gallen's getting hit hard, the Dbacks have no chance.

[Bulldogboy]

19 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I think this is going to be a sweep. If Gallen's getting hit hard, the Dbacks have no chance.

Castellanos hitting 7th. Completely ridiculous. Brewers picked up deadline guys to hit 3-4. 😳 

[RobertCrawley]

1 hour ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Need power. 

We need guys who are nails when it matters.