2016 Postseason Discussion

[bkeich]

Not even 10pm here.

Gotta love the Chooch/Kershaw hug, bittersweet for us and for AJ Ellis tho.

And in a surprise to no one, the first guy to "hit them" came from the dugout... Utley. Who else would run the fastest in joy?

[donaldorc]

My least favorite team is the Nationals. I don't like the franchise, I don't like the city (in fact we would be better off without it ) and some of the players are just annoying (Harper, etc.).

It was wonderful to watch Utley and Chooch (and Blanton to a lesser degree) be key parts of putting them away.

So, how many of us thought that Joe Blanton would be an important part of a team in the playoffs in 2016 during the 2008 season? I think Utley and Ruiz being contributors in their later years is not a surprise, but you could have made a mint betting that Blanton would have re-invented himself and contributing.

Although I completely agree with you about the Nationals, I disagree on the city. I love Washington. It is closest to a European city that I have been in in the States. Great museums, great arts, and you can just ignore the politics.

[EastFallowfield]

Kinda hard to find a lot of 2008 postseason picks by "experts", did find ESPN's, more did pick the Red Sox over the Rays, by a 3-2 margin, but then the Rays win impressed them, as they picked the Rays over the Phils 7-3. You can see who they picked but the article with the details seems to have disappeared.

They picked LA over us 4-1. They unanimously picked us over the Brewers, and all picked the Rays over the recent champion White Sox in the Division series.

Their "Diamond Mind" simulations predicted the Rays making the LCS, but against the Angels. Then in the ALCS they had the Rays beating the 'banged up, Manny Ramirez-less Red Sox'. 2007 postseason star Mike Lowell gave it a go in the LDS but was too hurt to continue.

Then for the World Series, Las Vegas and simulations favored the Rays, 'heavily' in the simulation story.

In the 2008 World Series, however, the odds favor the Rays so heavily that we believe they can overcome a Game 1 loss...The bottom line, however, is that Imagine Sports projects a championship for those "Cinderella" Rays, who will go from worst all the way to the top. Victory is most likely coming in six games or less, with a good chance that Tampa Bay takes it in four or five.

Their simulation story noted that weather could affect the games in Philly, giving us a possible benefit of getting 3 Hamels starts. Didn't seem like the rain we got was a plus for us...

[Philsmania]

My least favorite team is the Nationals. I don't like the franchise, I don't like the city (in fact we would be better off without it ) and some of the players are just annoying (Harper, etc.).

It was wonderful to watch Utley and Chooch (and Blanton to a lesser degree) be key parts of putting them away.

So, how many of us thought that Joe Blanton would be an important part of a team in the playoffs in 2016 during the 2008 season? I think Utley and Ruiz being contributors in their later years is not a surprise, but you could have made a mint betting that Blanton would have re-invented himself and contributing.

If I would have predicted eight years ago which Phillies would still be going eight years later, I would certainly have said Hamels, good chance Happ (he was just a rookie), Rollins, Utley, Madson (still young) and Romero (lefty relievers can have long lifespans as LOOGYs) and maybe Howard or Myers who weren't all that old yet. Werth had too checkered an injury history.

[bkeich]

My least favorite team is the Nationals. I don't like the franchise, I don't like the city (in fact we would be better off without it ) and some of the players are just annoying (Harper, etc.).

It was wonderful to watch Utley and Chooch (and Blanton to a lesser degree) be key parts of putting them away.

So, how many of us thought that Joe Blanton would be an important part of a team in the playoffs in 2016 during the 2008 season? I think Utley and Ruiz being contributors in their later years is not a surprise, but you could have made a mint betting that Blanton would have re-invented himself and contributing.

Although I completely agree with you about the Nationals, I disagree on the city. I love Washington. It is closest to a European city that I have been in in the States. Great museums, great arts, and you can just ignore the politics.

Politics: No, no, I can't

I agree I actually love the city. I however dislike the fans of the city, I have run into more obnoxious Redskins, Nationals and Capitals fans than any other, so I guess I should have stated my opinion clearer.

As far as "European" Cities, the other ones that I have found are Seattle, Portland (OR) and (to some degree) San Francisco. Portland's downtown reminds me more of the downtown's in Germany than pretty much anywhere I have been (at least 15 years ago when I lived in Oregon). I miss those downtown's.

[zambonir]

Replying to too many posts at once

• Blanton is still the youngest of them. He made a good move, clearly, not trying to hang on as a 7th starter somewhere.

• I would say the rain in '08 did favor the Phillies, they might have won Game 5 anyway of course but the Phillies PHing of Jenkins to start Part 2 (and Maddon having to leave Balfour, his "starter," in) produced a key run immediately.

• No question the Red Sox were not in any way more imposing than the Rays for baseball reasons. Though one reason the Vegas odds went the way they did in favoring the Rays over Phillies is they were such huge underdogs at the start of the season that the books had to try and balance out their futures bets, so they wanted to discourage more action on them. I'm sure AL East was perceived as the stronger division too (not without reason).

• Some really silly articles in the Washington Post today about the burden of being a Nats fan.

[olgrandad]

My least favorite team is the Nationals. I don't like the franchise, I don't like the city (in fact we would be better off without it ) and some of the players are just annoying (Harper, etc.).

It was wonderful to watch Utley and Chooch (and Blanton to a lesser degree) be key parts of putting them away.

So, how many of us thought that Joe Blanton would be an important part of a team in the playoffs in 2016 during the 2008 season? I think Utley and Ruiz being contributors in their later years is not a surprise, but you could have made a mint betting that Blanton would have re-invented himself and contributing.

Although I completely agree with you about the Nationals, I disagree on the city. I love Washington. It is closest to a European city that I have been in in the States. Great museums, great arts, and you can just ignore the politics.

Politics: No, no, I can't

I agree I actually love the city. I however dislike the fans of the city, I have run into more obnoxious Redskins, Nationals and Capitals fans than any other, so I guess I should have stated my opinion clearer.

As far as "European" Cities, the other ones that I have found are Seattle, Portland (OR) and (to some degree) San Francisco. Portland's downtown reminds me more of the downtown's in Germany than pretty much anywhere I have been (at least 15 years ago when I lived in Oregon). I miss those downtown's.

Have you ever been to New Orleans?

[CHIP]

RE: DC

I'm personally not a fan; too much smugness and cluelessness at the same time. There is also an obscene need to replace things (specifically buildings) here that don't need to be replaced. The one thing I do like about DC is its live music scene; lots of good venues with really good acts come through, and the local music scene is solid too. (I'm actually at the 9:30 Club for a Teenage Fanclub concert as I type this.)

As for DC sports fans, well I do enjoy when they are in misery. I call the football team the Deadskins and the baseball team the Natinals for a reason. (Incidentally, I attended Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS, and it probably ranks at the top of my in-person sports moments where I was rooting against a team.)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zambonir]

(I'm actually at the 9:30 Club for a Teenage Fanclub concert as I type this.)

jealous!

[bkeich]

Good Point, New Orleans is very European like.

Sent from my SHIELD Tablet K1 using Tapatalk

[LoneStarPhan]

First game at the LCS level in the books with a Cleveland win, 2-0, over the Blue Jays. Kluber pitches 6.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 6 Ks, but an efficient 0 runs. Miller is the bullpen bridge finishing the 7th and pitching the 8th. He faced 6, gave up a hit and struck out 5 in his 1.2 IP. Allen gives them the scoreless, hitless, walkless 9th for the save. Blue Jays had more hits, but a one on home run by Lindor provided the only runs of the game.

Dodgers-Cubs series gets underway tomorrow.

[LoneStarPhan]

Dodgers claw back to tie the first game with the Cubs at 3-3 in the 8th. Then Blanton came in. Grand slam and solo homer later, Cubs take 8-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th. Another double and Blanton is pulled and Dayton comes on to try to get the final out in the inning.

Blanton

Final: Cubs 8, Dodgers 4.

Chapman gets a blown save but gets the win. Blanton takes the loss and sees his series ERA goes to 67.50 (SSS).

Clayton Kershaw goes against Kyle Hendricks at 8 pm ET tomorrow.

[Lawman]

CLE up 2-0 on TOR. Wow.

[LoneStarPhan]

CLE up 2-0 on TOR. Wow.

The Blue Jays pounded the Rangers including Hamels and Darvish, but now see their bats silenced by the Indians, who really aren't hitting much either.

Indians win game one, 2-0 with only 6 hits (Blue Jays had 7).
Indians win game two, 2-1 with only 4 hits (Blue Jays had 3).

Happ the loser today; Miller pitched another 2 scoreless innings for the Indians.

[zambonir]

Well that was certainly quite a ride in the NLCS. I saw people criticizing Chapman (and even suggesting he was PH for because of his pitching), which is ridiculous. Feel bad for Joe, I guess the debate is whether Roberts should have put that additional pressure on him. Would his slider have been better if he wasn't worried about a WP or walk?

Of course Jansen also might have been on the mound for that third out of the eighth if not for the other night.

Cubs are only team w/o a former Phillies player, go figure.

[LoneStarPhan]

Real pitchers duel in game two of the NLCS.

Cubs with only 2 hits, Dodgers 3 hits for the game, but one of the Dodgers' hits was an A. Gonzalez home run leading off the second inning.

Final score, 1-0. Kershaw goes 7 innings to get the win; Jansen the final two innings for the save.

Series tied up 1-1 heading for LA.

[Philsmania]

Well that was certainly quite a ride in the NLCS. I saw people criticizing Chapman (and even suggesting he was PH for because of his pitching), which is ridiculous. Feel bad for Joe, I guess the debate is whether Roberts should have put that additional pressure on him. Would his slider have been better if he wasn't worried about a WP or walk?

Of course Jansen also might have been on the mound for that third out of the eighth if not for the other night.

Cubs are only team w/o a former Phillies player, go figure.

Michael Martinez reppin' in Cleveland!

[andyb]

More on the legend of Shohei Otani, this time in the postseason. Picks up a save and hits 165 KM/Hr on the radar gun (103 mph).

theringer.com/the-postseasons-t ... .buxui2315

He is not coming this offseason but there are rumors he would want to come after next season so he can play in the WBC. Signed through 2019 though in Japan. Bonus is we should be able to see him both pitch and hit in the WBC next March. Scouts labeling him s "10-tool player" with one even saying he is a 70 runner (beyond the obvious power and plate discipline he shows as a DH).

[zambonir]

Well that was certainly quite a ride in the NLCS. I saw people criticizing Chapman (and even suggesting he was PH for because of his pitching), which is ridiculous. Feel bad for Joe, I guess the debate is whether Roberts should have put that additional pressure on him. Would his slider have been better if he wasn't worried about a WP or walk?

Of course Jansen also might have been on the mound for that third out of the eighth if not for the other night.

Cubs are only team w/o a former Phillies player, go figure.

Michael Martinez reppin' in Cleveland!

Jeff Manship! Dan Otero!

[LoneStarPhan]

Does Dan Otero count as a former Phillie? He contributed 1.1 innings for the Indians tonight coming in with 2 outs in the first inning. Touched for a run on two hits (a home run). Phillies claimed him last Nov 3rd and DFA'd him on Dec 12th and sent him to the Indians for cash. He had a good year in Cleveland, 5-1, 1.53 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP in 70.2 IP.

Shows that there are relievers moving each off season that can contribute but the problem is figuring out which one is going to have the good year. The Phillies claimed multiple relievers last off season but also let several go. Some, including Otero, did okay after going elsewhere.

Manship pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for Cleveland tonight.

Jason Grilli now in pitching for the Blue Jays.