2016 MLB Postseason Thread

40,000 frat boy idiots wearing Ben Zobrist T-shirt jerseys getting lit on their mom and dad's credit card, like every other Saturday from April to September in that godforsaken corner of our proud nation. Go Dodgers.

 

'Murica baby.

 

At best, you've never taken a lead off of first base with a left-handed pitcher on the mound.

At worst, you've never played baseball.

 

Their ethnic background is interesting in the context of the historical racism which infuses USA culture of which baseball is a microcosm. I view it as a sign of progress and applaud it.

 

Great stat:

 

Something I've been thinking about regarding Kershaw ... Say the Dodgers have determined that his back problem from earlier in the season is completely over. That's a dicey proposition, but let's say he is fine.

Does that midseason break then make it possible for him to go full Hershiser the rest of the way? He is at 161 IP now. From there:

--NLCS: Start Gms 2/5, bullpen for Gm 7
--WS: Start Gms 1/4/7

Even that would get him to not quite 200 or barely over.

 

Three days rest every step of the way is good way to have him suck.

 

I don't care which team knocks them out -- Dodgers, Blue Jays or Indians -- but the Cubs absolutely cannot win the World Series. From Joe Maddon being cutesie with his bullshit to the jackass fans fucking that goat, the Cubs can eat a bag of dicks.

 

Possibly. Probably. But he has done pretty well at it the last couple of years. And all he has to do is be better than the fourth starter or whatever other option they have.

They are really in a jam. Their No. 2 guy can't go any length of time, and their No. 4 guy is a 20-year-old rookie whom they don't seem all that confident about.

 

OK, but is that more valuable than having the real Clayton Kershaw make two starts?

 

I think so at least against the Cubs. If he goes Game 2 (full rest minus whatever impact last night had), then Game 5 (three days' rest) and then is in the bullpen for Game 7? Probably better than counting on three starts combined out of Maeda and Urias.

I wasn't big on Roberts' initial decision to start him early ... but I think he knows his guy and the situation.

Or maybe I'm just thrown for a loop by seeing competent managing in the Dodger dugout. Mattingly would have lost that game 7-2.

 

Is Kyle Hendricks going to be back for the series? The Cubs are being suspiciously non-committal about his availability at this point.