2019 MLB postseason thread

There's always degrees to it, though. Like, leaving Greinke in or taking him out - I think either side of that argument is reasonable, and Harris had been pitching well. I think most of Hinch's individual decisions were OK, although I probably would have used Cole before I used Osuna and the rest of the bullpen gang. If there is a World Series goat on the Astros' side, it's Verlander, but they obviously don't even make it to the series if they don't have him.

 

Strasburg can opt out of his contract within three days of the end of the season.
Rendon is a free agent.
Boras is their agent.

 

I think Strasburg gets a pay bump and is a National again next year, in part because how the team has treated him (including in 2012).

Rendon I'm less certain of, but I'm still hopeful.

 

I myself did not see Cole and say "there's the guy who's going to absolutely take this home." Cole had made what one relief appearance in his life since starting at UCLA?? That's not a guarantee. Harris had been in high leverage spots all year and been lights out except for Rendon in Gm. 6.

Let's not forget too that while Kendrick's HR was awesome, it was a slice down the RF line that was two feet from foul on a cutter low and away. How many guys can hit that pitch there? And let's look at the "analytics" of his hit distribution in his CAREER on such a pitch location.

Grienke had been unbelievable but after Rendon's HR and then walking Soto, I'd say he was done, as opposed to being say Jack Morris 2019.

 

Generally, yes.
I’d say that most managerial decisions that work out are more likely to be forgotten rather than actively celebrated.

 

He’s a Boras client, he better get a hell of a bump or he’s opting out.

 

"Hall of Fame manager" Jim Leyland already had his.

 

I think ALL of this is absolutely, perfectly reasonable. It's all hindsight now, but at the time, I probably wouldn't have lifted Greinke yet. I mean, what the hell do I know, but still, the Rendon homer was really his only mistake pitch of the night, and he should've had two strikes on Soto. And, to me, walking Soto - or pitching around him - has not been a bad idea this series. It's reasonable, too.

We'll never know, and of course teams know their guys more than some dude watching from his couch will ever know, but Greinke still seemed very much in control to me. Of course, I would've probably pulled Scherzer in the third inning after the 6th rocket of 100-plus mph velocity off the bat to that point, chalking it up to him not having any real stuff. But those gutty innings probably made all the difference. Or it was as lucky as Harris' pitch result was unlucky.

 

The full winner’s share is about $425K, that’s about 75% of Soto’s salary. And 10% of Scherzer’s.

 

More like 1% of Scherzer’s salary.

 

That seemed awful low for Scherzer.

 

I’m sure Le Grande Orange is smiling in heaven after learning the Expos finally won a World Series