PLAYOFF BASEBALL (1 Viewer)

[Doctor Detroit]

I've been so busy the last month, I'm just overwhelmed. I watched the last few innings of the Rays/WS today and I've watched this whole Angels/RS game.

Don't get me wrong I love football (particularly college football) but baseball in October is just great even if we have the possibility of all four match-ups being 2-0 after tonight. But the thing about baseball is the best team doesn't always win, and the moments throughout the game that end up being the difference in the end seem more tangible on baseball than they do in other sports. I don't like playing to the end of the month and I wish they would go to a 154 game schedule and start this stuff a week early but I can't remember a post-season in baseball that I didn't absolutely enjoy. Some people here get the impression I'm bitter or jealous about my team not being in when I say something negative about these teams, that's simply not true. For one I'm just a ####, but I'm not the jealous type and people should know how a real Tigers fan would approach not making the post season: it's normal. I just love baseball and particularly the drama of October and I always pick sides in any given series.

Although this sub-forum is an abortion of the internet, we do have 20 or 30 posters who know their stuff and love the game. I just think baseball is better than any other sport, it's so simple it's complicated. October is the best month of the year, and it's not because of the pumpkin seeds or football.

PS: Baseball coverage here in Texas is really poor. I'm really disapointed they talk about the Silver Stars before the baseball playoffs.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Laughing at the poll.

 

[Capella]

What the #### is a Silver Star?

 

[KW4523]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

 

[Capella]

Look at this board right now. Red Sox fans are in full-bore doosh mode. Like 9 threads out of the top-10 talking about that ####ing team.

Crazy. They're like unfed, stupid animals.

 

[Billy Bats]

Playoff hockey is pretty darn good too. But I seem to hang on every pitch in a 9 inning playoff game. Even better when the home team is involved.

 

[Routilla]

Look at this board right now. Red Sox fans are in full-bore doosh mode. Like 9 threads out of the top-10 talking about that ####ing team.Crazy. They're like unfed, stupid animals.

Well what did you expect? The Yankees had been pumping them for so long that this will be the result every year they make the playoffs. I'd say it's time for them to win a few seeing as how they bypassed so many with the Babe Ruth trade.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

I hate to say it, but to make it more fair they may have to increase the first round to 7 games. Of course we may still be playing on Thanksgiving Day, but that's the price you pay.

 

[Eephus]

I don't like the best of five first round format and that my hotel this week didn't have TBS

 

[blackjack23]

The thing I love about the playoffs is a runner on 1st base with 2 outs in any inning feels like a rally. Its amazing.

 

[gump]

Was at the Rays game last night. Great atmosphere, but college football is better. Otherwise I agree. Definitely more fun than a great NFL game...and the Super Bowl is a joke.

 

[Gopher State]

NCAA BASKETBALL tournment is the best, baseball is second best

 

[Doctor Detroit]

...and that my hotel this week didn't have TBS

Ouch

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

The two best teams? Who the Cubs and Angels? I tried to tell you about the cubs but you were too much of a homer to accept it. As per a point I brought up elsewhere, I'll never root for the Cubs for one particular reason: They have the potential to become the next Red Sox nation. Thousands of mindless, ### eating, puffy tacod, arrogant, pointless, no baseball knowing jackals is enough. We don't need to add thousands and thousands more and then God forbid, ever have those two franchises ever meet in the World Series. That would be the equivalent of Chaddyshack II meets gay pornography shot on a cell phone.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

Perhaps you should take issue with the Cubs and Angels for playing so poorly, rather than the playoff format. Playoff baseball does indeed rule.

 

[KW4523]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

The two best teams? Who the Cubs and Angels? I tried to tell you about the cubs but you were too much of a homer to accept it. As per a point I brought up elsewhere, I'll never root for the Cubs for one particular reason: They have the potential to become the next Red Sox nation. Thousands of mindless, ### eating, puffy tacod, arrogant, pointless, no baseball knowing jackals is enough. We don't need to add thousands and thousands more and then God forbid, ever have those two franchises ever meet in the World Series. That would be the equivalent of Chaddyshack II meets gay pornography shot on a cell phone.

Quality post. Point taken on the Cubs. And even though I am a homer I cannot stand a lot of the Cubs fans. I can personally attest that there are a number of good ones but I'm sure that doesn't help.I'm going to contradict myself in the same post, though. While I may have come across as a homer I feel I am a pragmatic Cubs fan. Maybe they were flawed, but 97 wins? Most runs in the NL? 2nd best pitching? I really thought they'd show better.The Dodgers were better. Period. Seven games wouldn't have made a difference.

 

[KW4523]

I do kind of have an issue with the fact that the two best teams over the course of 162 might be bounced in the first round. Why play 162 games if there isn't a better advantage in the playoffs? But then again I was never a fan of the Wild Card.

Perhaps you should take issue with the Cubs and Angels for playing so poorly, rather than the playoff format. Playoff baseball does indeed rule.

Agree on all counts. Maybe we can get the Cubs and Angels to play for 7th place.

 

[Michael Brown]

Awhile back, I suggested to a bunch of buddies that the following playoff setup would work the best.

Have TWO wild cards in each league. Not only would that increase the number of teams in the playoffs, but it would also probably add anywhere from 2-4 teams with something to play for over that last week or two. It'd make it an even more exciting end to the regular season in my opinion.

Next, have those two wild card teams play one another. This year, that would've meant that the Brewers play the Mets in the NL while the Red Sox play the Yankees in the AL. Not a best of 5, but rather a best of 1. A single playoff game between the two teams the day after the regular season ends. This way, both wild card teams need to use their ace pitcher and have an added travel day. That puts them at a distinct disadvantage to the division winners, which right now have no advantage other than an extra home game.

The home field for that one game playoff would be determined by who had the better record, and if they were the same, it would be based on head-to-head record (adding extra incentive to every regular season game).

Then have the wild card winners advance to play the team with the best record.

I came up with this idea, and then a few months later Bob Costas pitched this idea on national television and was lauded for HIS great idea.

 

[curta269]

I love this time of year, and I'm having a very hard time working. There are games on every day, plus pro football. I want to find a good sports bar today to watch football and baseball, but then I will want to drink. I can't do that because I have to work tonight. No one is begging to pick up my shift either.

The 2 things I would change about baseball is going to a best of 7 in the 1st round and reduce the regular season to 154 games. The onwers, though, would never go for the 2nd one, I'm sure, because of loss of revenue.

It was hard not to laugh at the Cubs imploading, once again, in the playoffs. I watched a lot of their games this season as my roommate is a Cub fan. (I'm a Cardinals fan, so this was difficult for me, but I do love baseball) The only 2 guys in their lineup who scared me were Soriano and Ramirez. You shut those two down, they aren't going to score a lot. And, Dempster starting in game 1? Bad move by Piniella. I go with my 2 aces in the 1st 2 games, Zambrano and Harden.

I'm not a hater, but I am from central Illinois, originally. I had moved back there from '04-'08. The 1st 3 years, the Cardinals were in the playoffs and I would go out to a bar occaisionally to watch them play. Every time I went out, there were Cub fans there rooting for the other team (Astros, Braves, Dodgers, Red Sox), whichever one was playing St. Louis. I confronted the people rooting for the Astros. I asked how come they weren't wearing their Astros gear? They said they were Cub fans. I just couldn't figure out why they would care, but they just hated the Cardinals that much. This happened every post season and I vowed to never root for the Cubs when they are in the post season.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Yeah I agree the first round should be 7 games, and I think we'll go to 7 at some point. But they need to do it by shortening hte regular season back to 154 because otherwise we are going to start the third week of March or finish the 2nd week of November. Baseball in November in some northern cities is ridiculous, it's ####### cold!

 

[[icon]]

Baseball Prospectus PS Odds

---------- October 4 ---------------------

Win DS Win CS Win WS Yesterday

LAA 9.6727 4.6430 2.5928 Trail 2-0

TB 89.5053 42.5522 25.6000 Lead 2-0

CWS 10.4947 3.7831 1.7938 Trail 2-0

BOS 90.3273 49.0217 30.4237 Lead 2-0

CHC 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 Lost 3-1, lose series 3-0

PHI 69.3311 33.5163 13.8980 Lost 4-1, lead series 2-1

LAD 100.0000 51.6268 19.5193 Won 3-1, win series 3-0

MIL 30.6689 14.8569 6.1724 Won 4-1, trail series 2-1

Very surprised to see BOS the favorite as dinged up as they are. I see a TAM/LAD world series.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

The thing I love about the playoffs is a runner on 1st base with 2 outs in any inning feels like a rally. Its amazing.

A playoff game, and a series for that matter, can turn on any one batter in any game in the playoffs. Every pitch matters, which is what makes playoff baseball so great.

 

[Eephus]

...and that my hotel this week didn't have TBS

Ouch

OTOH, I was spared a whole lot of Frank Caliendo. Not very funny.

 

[Linus Scrimmage]

NFL playoffs and it's not even close.

There has been some great games so far this playoffs, but it's just not the same.

Only a game 7 can compare with an NFL playoff game, because you KNOW one team is going home.

 

[Michael Brown]

NFL playoffs and it's not even close.There has been some great games so far this playoffs, but it's just not the same.Only a game 7 can compare with an NFL playoff game, because you KNOW one team is going home.

The flipside to that is that in an NFL playoff game, if one team goes up 30-3 it's finished. In a baseball series, one team can thoroughly dominate three games but if they can't finish the job (1960 Yankees, 2004 Yankees) they still get the L and there's still reason to tune in.

 

[pats3in4]

Overtime playoff hockey >> the rest

 

[T Bell]

Both happen once per year, but I give baseball playoffs the edge on tiebreakers over sex. :IBTL:

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Overtime playoff hockey >> the rest

Yeah but OT hockey doesn't happen all the time. Plus playoff hockey is very dependent on just one player (goalie) and teams can completely outplay their opponent in a series and still lose because a goaltender stands on his head. I like playoff hockey too, just not as much.

 

[Finless]

Any random game of the divisional series trumps both the Superbowl and the NCAA National Championship.

America's Pastime LIVES!!!

 

[Ghost Rider]

Regardless of your rooting interest, tonight's game was a shining example of why playoff baseball is awesome.