2016 MLB Postseason Thread

I was was struck by this too. It didn't even look like that great a swing. I can't figure out how it got out.

 

Cubs fans also get a lot of mileage out of 1969. Led the division by eight games on the morning of Aug. 20, then went 15-25 the rest of the way and finished eight games behind the Mets.

Mostly, though, the Cubs just haven't been very good through the years. You have to imagine they'll win one of these sooner or later, now that they largely try.

 

The history of the Cubs is:

OK but couldn't win WS: 1909-1945

Sea of awful under bad ownership: 1945-1983

About average with no playoff luck: 1984-present.

Most of the 1945-1984 drought came from ownership refusing to spend money on amateur talent. The story of how they got Santo was pretty great. Going from memory: A Cubs scout befriended him so he was willing to sign there for less bonus than other teams were offering. They come to a deal and the scout goes to file it with the team, only to find out his boss's boss nixed it and he is now only authorized to offer half of what they had agreed on. Santo figured screw it, the Cubs are awful so maybe it is the quickest path to the majors.

 

Giants get rid of base coaches.

Giants remove base coaches Kelly, Hayes from their positions

Roberto Kelly at third was particularly terrible. Tim Flannery was noticeably strong in that role through 2014, and Kelly just never got the hang of it.

 

What teams are we least likely to see at this time of year? Since the Division Series/Wild Card came around, here are your stragglers:

ONE PLAYOFF SERIES WIN SINCE 1995
Reds (1995)
Twins (2002)
A's (2006)
Brewers (2011)
Orioles (2014)

NO PLAYOFF SERIES WINS SINCE 1995
Pirates (1979)
Expos/Nationals (1981)

How about those A's? Not only that, they're responsible for the Twins only postseason bright spot of the last 25 years.

The Nats -- together with their manager -- can break some sorry streaks together tonight.

 

Maybe if the Cubs and Red Sox hadn't lost? A World Series between a team everyone hated and a team that no one really cared about is quite a buzzkill, even if everyone enjoyed the Yankees losing.

Gonna go back to Bobby and send in his application?

 

That 1986 playoffs was amazing; the 14 inning game between the Mets and the Astros was awesome (Billy Hatcher's bummed that he was never given credit for his performance in that series). And then of course there was the WS (which should not be remembered for Buckner but for Bob Stanley's damn WP allowing the tieing run to score.)

 

Amazing yes, I was there. But it was Calvin Schiraldi turning back into a pumpkin after two months as a great rookie closer that did in the Red Sox.

 

Off of your heading, I thought they were getting revolutionary ith a cost cutting move.

I guess his career highlight remains being traded for Paul O'Neil. I liked him when he was a Yankee. Was the hope for the future on some pretty brutal teams. Hope he lands on his feet.

 

True, but it was still Stanley on the mound who threw the wild pitch letting Mitchell (?) score the tying run and Knight to advance to 2nd.

 

Geez Murphy, how 'bout you slide there?

 

Question for Nats fans: How many off-seasons has Ryan Zimmerman had to get that shoulder fixed, and why hasn't he? He's been unable to throw for something like four years now.