MLB Playoffs

I heard Chris Sale won’t make his next start, that helps!

 

1-0 boys

 

Homerism mostly aside, by rule the fans would have to extend into the field of play for it to be interference. I don't think that happened and it seemed clear, unless there was something else to the rule that I missed

 

Astros lose and Red Sox are on to the World Series, I did not believe this Houston team could lose a 7 game series but they did, combination of bad luck, bad calls, some incredible defense by Boston, untimely hitting combined with pitching melt downs at worst time by the best staff in baseball. Looks like Fox will get its preferred TV match up.

 

Please. I'm not an Astros hater, but the Red Sox had just as many roster issues as Houston (Sale sick, Mookie hitting like ****, Kimbrel melts down at every outing) and still won 3 straight on the road. I think this has a lot more to do with Houston fans watching the Cleveland series (arguably the worst playoff team) and thinking it would be smooth sailing into the WS. The Astros were middle-of-the-road for home winning percentage compared to AL teams... it's kind of like the Cowboys playing at home and fans wondering why they don't play better there.

 

Not surprised as it is very hard to repeat especially with having to beat the current year's version of the best team in baseball. Beating Boston in a 7 game series with Boston having the home advantage was a tall order that the Astros probably were not going to be able to overcome anyway.

 

Brewers beat Dodgers in game six and force a deciding seventh game in the NLCS.

 

Dodgers and Red Sox get underway tonight as Kershaw pitches against Sale. My LCS picks went 1 for 2 after picking all four LDS series right. I think Boston wins in five but am tempted to say 6 as Dodgers could win both Kershaw starts but lose all others.

 

$8 for a WS ticket

 

I think Boston wins in 7.

For LA, they seem to have an over-reliance of Puig and Machado for offense. Outside of Taylor, the rest of the lineup seems to provide timely hitting but nothing beyond the timeliness. Boston is very good at keeping the hits "untimely," like a 2-out double with no one on base and then get the next guy out. This seemed to happen every inning against NYY and Houston.

As great as Buehler and Kershaw are, I just don't think anyone else in their rotation is scary and they could implode at any time, even at home. Jansen and Baez are gangbusters though. Boston doesn't have anyone in the bullpen as good as either of them.

As for Boston, their pitching is talented but erratic. Even though he had spurts of untouchability throughout the season, Eovaldi just doesn't scare me. Sale is great but his ******* belly button ring seems to be a bigger story than how he barely pitched after July. Which David Price will show up? I hate to say it, but I almost trust Porcello more than everyone else in the rotation. And Kimbrel has been a nightmare with tipping his pitches... not sure why they were even throwing him out there against Houston.

On offense, while Mookie and Benintendi haven't been great, everyone else seems to have picked up the RBI slack. And unlike LA, I think they're getting contributions from every part of the lineup at really opportune times. Bradley, Devers, and Pearce aren't supposed to be the MVPs for Boston, but they played like it (at times). LA has a leg up on playing in the NL park because it's very difficult for Boston to tell when to pinch hit, and Moreland has been their only reliable one, whereas LA has several guys to do it.

Each game in this series will be similar to the BOS/HOU series, except with more wins for the NL team. One-swing type of games.

 

MLB should call this series
Award the NL pennant to the Astros, and just put an end to it

 

Shades of game 6 in st Louis as former Ranger Kinsler's error saves the Dodgers in the 13th and then LA wins in 18 to keep some small hope alive as they trail 2 games to 1.

 

That game ended at like 4am on the East Coast.

 

Red Sox going for championship tonight after coming back last night to win game 4. Dodgers have advantage with Kershaw but then again Houston had advantage with Verlander in game five and that got them nothing more than the start to the off season.

 

Red Sox win world series.

4 months until pitchers and catchers report.

 

Painful reminder.