the Official Baseball thread

[YelseyKing]

I guess tonight's game probably won't be worth watching, unless you *enjoy* watching Cubs strike out in record numbers. Oh well.

[RedMageSusie]

This is looking like a Jays v Indians game...

[YelseyKing]

Aaaaaand that game was *exactly* as exciting as I predicted.

[pholtos]

I see the Kershaws won today. :P

[pholtos]

I made it guys. This is 2000-2015, as 2016 is not yet complete. I hope I didn't make any mistakes.
You can get a pretty good idea of how often a team has been at each level if you just take it over 16.
The right section is that team's record at each level of the postseason.

[YelseyKing]

I'm not sure what's more depressing on that list, the fact that the Pirates have only made it as far as even the Division Series *once* (having appeared in three Wild Card games and lost two), or that the Athletics keep making the postseason, only to be quickly eliminated. 1-6. Ouch. I do like, however, that the Marlins have made it to the postseason only once in that time span, and won the World Series. And, in fact, if I remember correctly, they've only made the postseason twice, *period*, and have won the World Series both times... pretty impressive, even if their appearance in the 2003 World Series stung something fierce.

And... yeeeaaaahh, that list kinda shows just *why* I'm so sick of the Cardinals. 12 postseason appearances, 9 times making it to the LCS, four times to the World Series, and two wins. I actually didn't watch baseball at all in 2000, and only caught the World Series in 2001 (solely because I lived in Arizona at the time, and an Arizona sports team actually *making* the end-all-be-all game was basically unheard-of), so I at least missed *those*. (I didn't even start following the D-Backs until they *made* it to the World Series. That they were in the postseason meant little, given that there had been several instances in which I'd seen *other* Arizona teams make the playoffs, only to lose.)

But damn. 9-3 in the division series for the Cardinals... They've honestly always baffled me. They're by far the most consistently good team in the NL, but unlike the Yankees, who just buy all the big name players, and so it makes *sense* that a team fielding a roster of all-stars and a rotation of ace pitchers would dominate (and the fact that they *haven't* been using this strategy for the last several years, but the Red Sox seemingly *have* been, resulting in the two teams' fortunes having reversed of late)... but the Cardinals can seemingly throw anyone on the field and they'll do good. And they're practically batting 1.000 when it comes to bringing up minor leaguers, which is further odd given the fact that their high standings year after year *should* be yielding, at best, mediocre late round draft picks. For years, I thought it was their coaching staff (particularly Dave Duncan), and that Tony LaRussa was just a genius as a manager (and let's face it: he *was*; I have the utmost respect for him, and I actually think it's pretty awesome that he retired on top). But... the coaches and manager have all changed in the last few years, and the team hasn't shown the slightest sign of getting any worse. So I have absolutely no idea. Nor do I have any idea why certain pitchers (Jeff Weaver, Kyle Lohse, Shelby Miller, Pat Neshek) were virtually unhittable in St. Louis, but mediocre at best elsewhere, before and after their time with the Cardinals. *shrug* Sorcery.

[RedMageSusie]

Wow...Sucks to be an A's fan

[Bean]

My mind wasn't on the game much last night, but Kershaw is finally showing up in the postseason and not wilting like he would against the Cards. That's not a good sign for my team.

[RedMageSusie]

The Dodgers are 4-0 in games that Kershaw pitches and 0-3 in the rest. Pholtos might be right about the LA Kershaws thing.

[pholtos]

Blue Jays having no luck against the Indians. 3-0 hole. Good luck trying to comeback from that.

[RedMageSusie]

Welp, this is probably the most frustrating postseason series I've seen the Jays play (not that there's been many).

[YelseyKing]

...welp. Unless the Jays can manage to channel the 2004 Red Sox, they're... probably toast. Damn.

[YelseyKing]

Well, the Jays snap the Tribe's winning streak... can they come back? Mmmmmmmmaybe. We'll see.

[RedMageSusie]

Curse those Jays, giving me hope... Although, with our pitching, we might still have a chance...

[RedMageSusie]

Dodgers win a game not pitched by Kershaw? What?

[YelseyKing]

Well. I kinda figured that game would be one-sided. I just kind of expected it to be one-sided the other way. Ace pitcher vs. journeyman nobody? Sure.

[pholtos]

I really don't want _ to win.

[pholtos]

Things are looking bleak for the Blue Jays.

[YelseyKing]

Looks like it's going to be Indians and _, given the way the Cubs have hit over the last two games. Getting shut out by Kershaw is no big shame... but Rich Freakin' Hill? Really?

[pholtos]

Good try Blue Jays, sorta hard to win when you hardly score runs.

[RedMageSusie]

Welp. Let's go Cubs.

[YelseyKing]

Finally! The Cubs remembered how to score!

[pholtos]

:D

[YelseyKing]

And after the Dodgers attempt a comeback, scoring two runs, the Cubs are all like "Yeah, no" and score five more. Sweet. Though the Cubs had better win tonight and tomorrow, because the Kershaw is back in game 6.

[Bean]

I think the Cubs will get to Kershaw the next time they see him, but yeah... Win Game 5.