2020 MLB postseason thread

I mean, this whole enterprise was basically about as responsible as driving home drunk. Tonight is pretty much like celebrating making it home by doing body shots off the pedestrian you just hit on the sidewalk in front of your house.

 

The Rays' ace, their best pitcher, had struck out 9 of 18 batters he faced, and had still only thrown 70 pitches. One hit (with one out already, no less) and he's pulled? He was a ground ball away from ending the inning. They should have been hoping he could throw two more innings, not trying to get Nick Anderson, a 29-year-0ld with 81 total innings pitched at the Major League level into a high-leverage situation in the World goddamn Series.

 

I know there are guys who are dying to win a title, but ...

 

Well, congrats to the Dodgers. They deserved it. Here's to another 32-year drought.

The whole situation with Snell being taken out reminded me of another Dodgers' World Series-clinching game: In 1981, L.A. was ahead 3 games to 2 going into Game 6 in New York. Tommy John was the starter for the Yankees. With the game tied 1-1 in the fourth and a couple men on for the Yankees, manager Bob Lemon pulled John for a pinch-hitter (back then, a DH would be used in the WS in even numbered years and pitchers would bat in odd numbered years). The ploy didn't work, the Yankees stranded the runners and the Dodgers feasted on NY's relief pitching to win the game and the series. I'm sure those Dodgers were just as happy to see that move as tonight's Dodgers were to see Cash signal to the bullpen.

 

I respect and enjoyed the Rays but how fitting that it ends with Adames striking out looking?

 

Between the Rays' manager trusting the spreadsheet instead of common sense and MLB ignoring testing protocol at the biggest moment of the season, I'm nearly at a loss for words.

 

I love this. “Trusting the spreadsheet”. How’d the spreadsheet work out for them this year? I know with their high payroll they have all the advantages that teams that don’t use the spreadsheet have.
You know the team that won is also a “spreadsheet” team.

 

I've been wrong before, but the Turner thing feels like something that seems like a huge deal that night but in a week noone but the hardcore nerds will care.

 

Yeah, I gotta admit, I am unable to get myself worked up over Turner joining the celebration. He’s worked his whole life for this and may never get another shot. The team apparently wanted him out there. He’d already been around them all day. What, Manfred’s supposed to have security tackle him and drag him out?

Tomorrow’s going to be a solid day of self righteous sportswriter anger and I’m just not interested.

 

It will be topped by the spreadsheets and nerds takes.

 

I’m happy for Kershaw.

In the 30 minutes of the game I watched, I think it was four batters, Smoltz mentioned that he felt the shift was going to hurt a team late in the game when it’s used on a hitter who can slap it easily to the other side.

He was just wrong about which analytic.