⚾ The MLB Thread

[blueharvest]

 

[InCali]

There's still about 25 games left, but the playoff picture in the NL looks pretty much set. The Padres could catch the Dodgers, but both teams look like playoff locks. The Dodgers have essentially a 3 game lead (because of the tie breaker). I don't see the Giants catching either as they are 8-10 games back.

The Cubs aren't catching the Brewers, but neither are the Reds catching the Cubs so those two are in also.

In the east, the Mets "maybe" have a chance to catch the Phillies if the wheels fall off, but don't count on it. There's no way the Marlins catch NY so the Phills and Mets are in.

My biggest surprise is how poorly Atlanta fared. I thought they'd be much, much better than they've shown.

The AL is a "little" more murky. In the east, it looks like the Jays, Yanks, and Red Sox are in. The Red Sox would have to fall behind 2 teams in order to be out and have a 3 game lead over the Mariners, a 5 game lead over the Rangers, and a 6 game lead over the Royals. Detroit is in so I think the Mariners, Rangers, and Royals fight it out for the last spot. Seattle is 2 up on Texas and 3 up on KC. The Mariners, however, could catch the Astros and are only 2 games behind them, then it's Houston likely fighting for that last spot. Nothing over there is for sure as a lot of teams are rather bunched up.

Biggest surprise here is that the Yanks didn't walk away with it in the east, but they've been slightly bitten by the injury bug.

 

[Lily Adler]

 

[blueharvest]

 

[TheBatman22]

I’m a die-hard Mets fan and bleed orange and blue. I called them out during their slump, and now it feels like New York sports teams are responding. The Jets moved on from Rodgers, the Rangers hired a coach in the mold of Torts to push their potential, and the Mets made key rotation moves by calling up Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. Juan Soto is on pace to break his home run record, making a strong case for NL MVP with his offense and defense. If we make the playoffs, Soto deserves the NL MVP, and rest in peace to Mets legend Davey Johnson, overlooked by the Hall of Fame.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

 

[blueharvest]

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Lily Adler]

 

[InCali]

A wholly arse.....

 

[ComicChick]

mariners middle infielders are totally in sync. fun duo to watch

 

[InCali]

Clayton Kershaw to retire after 18 seasons with the Dodgers.

Not a huge Dodgers fan, but I watch them because their games are always on. Kershaw has had a really nice year and has been what I would consider a solid, upper part of the order pitcher. It's nice to see a guy go out on his own terms and stay with one team for his entire career. He's a lock, first ballot HOFer and if someone doesn't vote for him to be in, they're an idiot or don't deserve to have a ballot.

https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-to-retire-after-2025-season

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Spider-Fan]

Dude....if Braves win today over the Tigers, and Guardians win both games against the Twins today (on their way to winning the 1st one....5-0 in 8th)...they'd be 1 game back of the Tigers. In July, they were 15.5 back! This is amazing

 

[InCali]

Dude....if Braves win today over the Tigers, and Guardians win both games against the Twins today (on their way to winning the 1st one....5-0 in 8th)...they'd be 1 game back of the Tigers. In July, they were 15.5 back! This is amazing

Baseball is funny. Unless you're Colorado or the ChiSox, all teams go through hot and cold streaks. I never saw this coming with the Tigers. My dream, now that Dusty is gone, is that the Houston Cheatstros, get bumped from the playoffs by the BoSox and Guardians/Tigers.

 

[InCali]

The Cheatstros just lost the season series to the Mariners. Right now, Seattle is up by 2 games in the AL west. "IF" Seattle loses to them tomorrow, the lead is down to 1 game, but Seattle essentially has a 2 game lead with 7 games left. If the asterisk World Series winners of 2017 lose, they are down by 4 with 7 games left.

 

[Morg]

Robot umpires approved for MLB in 2026 as part of challenge system

hope no one has Connor as his/her last name

 

[Dr. Evil]

Cal Raleigh hit his 60th home run of the season, which he will never do again.

 

[InCali]

Robot umpires approved for MLB in 2026 as part of challenge system

hope no one has Connor as his/her last name

It's about freaking time. The idea that HP umps make the correct call about 95% of the time is overly generous horse waste. They have to have a some kind of buffer for a "missed" call because those guys aren't that accurate. This is a step in the right direction, but pitchers and hitters need to know what to expect and not have someone screw up an at bat and game.

These guys have proven they can't consistently handle this part of their responsibilities and the players deserve to win and lose games.

 

[Dr. Evil]

It is official: The dominance of the Houston Astros is officially over as they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

 

[InCali]

It is official: The dominance of the Houston Astros is officially over as they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

I'm WAILING for the Cheatstros.....someone get me some whine with my cheese and call me a WAHHmbulance.

I was thinking about the teams that were the biggest underachievers this year. My first reaction was to name the Dodgers (3rd in the west) and the Mets (missed the playoffs). There was an honorable mention for the Braves; who just baffle me.

But, thanks to you, I'm adding the team with the upside down pentagram logo; the asterisk ridden former world champs. Bless you.

 

[blueharvest]

Mets owner apologizes to fans after $340M Dream Team season ends before playoffs

Mets missed playoffs despite $340 million payroll being one of biggest in the league

www.independent.co.uk

 

[InCali]

Mets owner apologizes to fans after $340M Dream Team season ends before playoffs

Mets missed playoffs despite $340 million payroll being one of biggest in the league

www.independent.co.uk

I said from the get go that I thought the starting pitching was their Achilles Heel. They started off really well, got bitten by the injury bug, and just regressed to where they normally pitched. Baseball is a 162 game season and people tend to be who they are over the long haul.

You can't overcome inconsistent starting pitching with offense for any length of time. Ditto for relief pitching; which is why the Dodgers are in the WC playoffs. Now that the playoffs are starting, teams can start to shorten their starters and this bodes well for teams who have very deep pitching. If they have strong 5 and 6 starters, they can put them in the bullpen, keep their relief pitchers who have been effective, and push out the ones who haven't done well.

Same goes for offense. If you can insert a great 3 or 4 hitter, it strengthens the bottom of your order.

These changes have a ripple effect and the differences between playoff teams are so minute, that a player or two, who aren't even stars, can make all the difference in the world.

 

[InCali]

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the starting rotation for the 2024 World Series champions, the Los Angeles Doggers.

(From left to right) Shortstop, Clyde Einstein, and Swap Meet Louie. The Big 3 will face off against the NL East champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

[blueharvest]