2023 MLB Postseason Thread

[L54]

Agreed. He truly is one of the games "greats" and should be someone that we tell our grandkids about when we're in a rocking chair. The guy is simply incredible at almost any sport he plays.

 

That’s why he’s one of my favourite players is because he’s just an elite athlete. He’s like the one guy everyone knows who’s good at everything they do, but at a pro level

[G-Snarls]

Betts is without a doubt one of the games coolest players. He’s the modern day Andrew McCutchen and I was a big fan of his too

 

One of my favorite players and so happy he left Boston

[Spanky__99]

You’d never hear this s*** from Vlad

 

And Bo said *it was time to reflect on each other from top to bottom, to get better* a true leader.

[Terminator]

I don't know whats going on. This Board has always had flare ups in the decade I've been around but its degraded into warring camps of Jays fans firing condescending s*** back and forth. To the extent I've joined in, I'm going to back off that behaviour. At the end of the day bunch of hard core baseball and Jays fans on here with differing opinions on some topics. Because its online it shouldn't just be a snark and one up fest IMO.

 

It happens every year when the season is over.

[glory]

The expanded format is going to lead to situations like this (DBacks in the NLCS with 84 wins) from time to time but I think it’s good for the game and good for the fans to have more teams in contention and in the post season somewhat regularly. It definitely devalues the regular season in terms of importance, though.

[BigCecil]

It happens every year when the season is over.

 

Ok. Well that makes sense then lol. Enough kumbaya.

[connorp]

The expanded format is going to lead to situations like this (DBacks in the NLCS with 84 wins) from time to time but I think it’s good for the game and good for the fans to have more teams in contention and in the post season somewhat regularly. It definitely devalues the regular season in terms of importance, though.

 

People were forgetting that a month ago people here even were mentioning the Dbacks were an exciting young team. Again, it not necessarily about total wins, as much as you are the team going in.

[Terminator]

People were forgetting that a month ago people here even were mentioning the Dbacks were an exciting young team. Again, it not necessarily about total wins, as much as you are the team going in.

 

Lol no one was saying they would make it far in the playoffs

[Spanky__99]

lol

 

[connorp]

Lol no one was saying they would make it far in the playoffs

 

It’s the same in other sports, where there’s “dangerous” lower seed teams. Some lower seed team their eliminations seems inevitable. I think AZ was closer to the former. Their lack of depth would be something that is going to show up a lot more in the course of a regular season, vs short series. You don’t necessarily expect they’ll knock off the top seeds, but it’s not shocking.

[Terminator]

It’s the same in other sports, where there’s “dangerous” lower seed teams. Some lower seed team their eliminations seems inevitable. I think AZ was closer to the former. Their lack of depth would be something that is going to show up a lot more in the course of a regular season, vs short series. You don’t necessarily expect they’ll knock off the top seeds, but it’s not shocking.

 

Of course it's not shocking. A lower seeded team will advance to the LCS almost every single playoffs and I've said as much.

 

But none of you pegged the D-Bags as a "dangerous" lower seeded team but now with the magical forecasting power that is hindsight you are all acting like you predicted this when you didn't.

 

You guys can come up with bs reasons like they are "dangerous" or they have an "exciting young team" (if they lose this one quickly turns in to "they weren't experienced enough to win in the playoffs yet").

 

But the real reason is that there's just so much randomness to baseball that anyone who gets in can go far. You obviously want to have the best team you can entering the playoffs to better your chances, but once you're in you've got a shot and the D-Backs are proof of that.

[BigCecil]

But the real reason is that there's just so much randomness to baseball that anyone who gets in can go far. You obviously want to have the best team you can entering the playoffs to better your chances, but once you're in you've got a shot and the D-Backs are proof of that.

 

Fair. There is randomness to all sports playoffs. Its not just unique to baseball. The Astros are 7 consecutive years in the ALCS. Thats not random. AZ's talent is benefitting from short series, being hot at the right time and running into opponents with major pitching challenges. Thats pretty random & good luck.

[Laika]

The randomness in baseball playoffs is much higher than most other sports. Upsets are probably much, much more common than the other major sports.

 

Basketball would have the least upsets.

Hockey probably more upsets than basketball but still not close to baseball.

I don't know anything about football but it's basically just a wizard vs. wizard matchup between QBs right? Feel like there are less upsets in football despite the one game sample size, just because of how it is played.

[connorp]

Fair. There is randomness to all sports playoffs. Its not just unique to baseball. The Astros are 7 consecutive years in the ALCS. Thats not random. AZ's talent is benefitting from short series, being hot at the right time and running into opponents with major pitching challenges. Thats pretty random & good luck.

 

Yeah I’m sorry but the old school tired and true method of having some Aces is best. And if you can hit too, like the Astros always have, look what happens.

 

Philly is going to handle the Dback and go to the 2nd WS in a row. Have to stop calling it dumb luck at some point

[Laika]

Aaron Nola had an ERA/FIP over 4 in the NL this year. Is he even still an Ace?

 

He's Jose Berrios level

[connorp]

The randomness in baseball playoffs is much higher than most other sports. Upsets are probably much, much more common than the other major sports.

 

Basketball would have the least upsets.

Hockey probably more upsets than basketball but still not close to baseball.

I don't know anything about football but it's basically just a wizard vs. wizard matchup between QBs right? Feel like there are less upsets in football despite the one game sample size, just because of how it is played.

 

It’s bc one player, a pitcher, can have so much effect on the outcome of the game. In case you weren’t sharp enough to conclude that on your own. So it’s like, 110 win Dodgers but they face DeGrom. Suddenly not a great bet

[connorp]

Aaron Nola had an ERA/FIP over 4 in the NL this year. Is he even still an Ace?

 

He's Jose Berrios level

 

As someone closely watching Nola’s starts this year. He was pretty frustrating. I think he’ll find it for the NLCS though

[BigCecil]

The randomness in baseball playoffs is much higher than most other sports. Upsets are probably much, much more common than the other major sports.

 

Basketball would have the least upsets.

Hockey probably more upsets than basketball but still not close to baseball.

I don't know anything about football but it's basically just a wizard vs. wizard matchup between QBs right? Feel like there are less upsets in football despite the one game sample size, just because of how it is played.

 

It’s bc one player, a pitcher, can have so much effect on the outcome of the game. In case you weren’t sharp enough to conclude that on your own. So it’s like, 110 win Dodgers but they face DeGrom. Suddenly not a great bet

 

Love to see some math on this if it exists.

 

In hockey a hot goalie (1 player) can have a big impact on the outcome of a game.

[Brownie19]

Love to see some math on this if it exists.

 

In hockey a hot goalie (1 player) can have a big impact on the outcome of a game.

 

It takes about 3 seconds to disprove most of what he says.

Edited October 12, 2023 by Brownie19

[Terminator]

The randomness in baseball playoffs is much higher than most other sports. Upsets are probably much, much more common than the other major sports.

 

Basketball would have the least upsets.

Hockey probably more upsets than basketball but still not close to baseball.

I don't know anything about football but it's basically just a wizard vs. wizard matchup between QBs right? Feel like there are less upsets in football despite the one game sample size, just because of how it is played.

 

Yes, in football only 4 times since playoff expansion in 1990 has a #5 or #6 seeded team won the Super Bowl. The QBs of those teams were Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Brady is the GOAT, Rodgers a sure-fire HoFer, Roethlisberger a HoFer and Eli a borderline HoFer.

[Terminator]

It’s bc one player, a pitcher, can have so much effect on the outcome of the game. In case you weren’t sharp enough to conclude that on your own. So it’s like, 110 win Dodgers but they face DeGrom. Suddenly not a great bet

 

Yeah but the Dodgers didn't face DeGrom. They lost to Brandon Pfart.

[Brownie19]

Yeah but the Dodgers didn't face DeGrom. They lost to SUPERSTAR Brandon Pfart.

 

fify

 

Stars and aces win in the playoffs.

 

Unless your stars and aces are Betts, FF and Kershaw I guess?

[connorp]

Love to see some math on this if it exists.

 

In hockey a hot goalie (1 player) can have a big impact on the outcome of a game.

 

I don’t count hockey. Niche sport here

[connorp]

Love to see some math on this if it exists.

 

In hockey a hot goalie (1 player) can have a big impact on the outcome of a game.

 

It’s pretty easy to quantify. Check Vegas odds, they sway majorly with who is pitching

[connorp]

“Oh wow, true”. That’s something you won’t hear. Be tough to realize you’re a step behind in your thinking

[Terminator]

It’s pretty easy to quantify. Check Vegas odds, they sway majorly with who is pitching

 

The Diamondback weren't favored by Vegas to beat the Dodgers in any of the 3 games that were played.

[connorp]

The Diamondback weren't favored by Vegas to beat the Dodgers in any of the 3 games that were played.

 

That doesn’t mean the odds don’t change when Gallen pitches, good try

[connorp]

The point is getting murkier here. I didn’t claim I would’ve bet AZ over LAD. LAD had a major weakness of theirs exposed though and I’ll bet you a million dollars the front office is going to spend countless hours breaking that all down. They aren’t going to be like, “dumb luck, we’ll get them next year”..

[Terminator]

That doesn’t mean the odds don’t change when Gallen pitches, good try

 

The point is getting murkier because you are conflating your own arguments.

 

You claim that aces matter (I mostly agree with that) while simultaneously claiming that the D-Bags are "dangerous" and that they were an identifiable low-seeded team who could make a run (even though you only said this with the benefit of hindsight).

 

Meanwhile, the D-Bags have started Brandon Pfart in 40% of their playoff games so far. He's better than his 5.72 ERA suggests but he's hardly the pinnacle of playoff pitching.

[Laika]

It takes about 3 seconds to disprove most of what he says.

 

then do it, fart muffin

 

you can't because I'm right