2020 MLB postseason thread

Watched a video of Mantle's 500th homer today, against Baltimore. Red Barber on the call. Paraphrasing, "Belanger, Johnson, Powell all on the second base side of second base. No way Mantle can get a ball through there." I can't remember Mantle being shifted against, but I guess he was. He was a dead-pull hitter from the left side.

 

What I notice from that home run is how he could barely run those bases. Man, cannot imagine the pain he must have gone through. Him and Koufax.

 

"Who is Lou Gehrig"

 

In my junior hockey days I really believed a team that young needs to learn to win in the playoffs. I hope that's true because they were outclassed in every area against the Rays. There are a lot of areas this group needs to clean up - in the field, on the bases and on the mound - before it can be considered a serious AL contender. There is a ton to like about this team (I know baseball teams aside from the Yankees don't do the captain thing but if this group has a captain-type it will be Cavan Biggio) but they have a way to go before being ready for prime time. I know piling on Charlie Montoyo - who still gives off that "happy to be here " vibe - is SOP among Jays fans these days, but I believe that when this group is truly ready to make the jump he won't be the manager.

 

I had the same thought about the Jays, that this experience will be valuable to a team that was too young to be ready to win in October this year, but has a bright future ahead. In that regard, they benefited from the expanded playoff format, as they wouldn't have made it to the postseason in a regular year.

I caught the last couple innings of the Padres game last night and found myself irrationally annoyed by them. I'm not really sure why.

 

The Jays are inconsistent. They will be great.
I like the Padres because they can hit. Bat-flipping doesn’t bother me. I think it will be more tolerated in five years than it is today.

 

I don't mind bat flipping in the least. I'm really not sure what bugs me about them.

 

I am all in on Team Bat Flip. That was a very entertaining game.

I agree with your comment on the Jays; that core of homegrown guys can do great things, the front office needs to add some pieces, pitching help, obviously, although there are some promising young arms, and a veteran bat or two. They got some swagger but they found out in a hurry in the playoffs that don't count for much if the other team punches back.

 

Wow. Unbelievable.

 

And Guerrero need to eat the odd salad.

 

You honestly expect guys who are smart enough in general knowledge to appear on Jeopardy... to know that Yogi Berra was a catcher 65 years ago? That the NFL Giants played there? That Mickey Mantle got a hit off of Luis Tiant??