MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

Whatever team that stumbles into a hot streak at the right time. Not the best way to determine a champion, but nobody asks me for my input.

 

Gutsy effort by Cole.

With Cleveland resting the back end of its pen for two days, I think this will essentially be a bullpen game. Stephan, Karinchak and Clase may each go two innings, making this a three-inning deal for Civale.

 

So the NBA and non-US soccer have the only true champions then. And how do you change or other than going to pre-1969 baseball?

Honestly, this is better. It makes the trade deadline more meaningful, more teams are in the hunt in the last month and it rewards going for it even if you are hovering around .500. Since the LCS 1 team with 100 wins has missed the playoffs (6 overall). And since the wildcard, one team with greater than 95 wins has missed and a handful of 90-plus wins have missed.

 

Karinchak was this close to a disaster on Friday. I know they'll have to use him tomorrow but he's the guy who might end up dropping the baton.

 

I don’t watch when he pitches.

I know his numbers say he’s one of the best relievers in baseball, but between his antics, nervous twitches, talking to himself, throwing eight pitches per batter and the fact I’m convinced he’s still doctoring the ball somehow, I cannot watch him pitch.

It’s akin to that awful summer that the Indians traded for John Rocker. It was unwatchable.

 

Oh he's a lunatic, zero doubt. And an anti-vaxxer, shockingly! They'll have to use him tomorrow and there's a real chance of a season-ending meltdown.

 

The best way to determine a baseball champion is to have the four best records in both leagues, regardless of division, make the playoffs, 1plays four best of 7, winners plays best of 7 in the LCS, winners play best of 7 in the Series.

And if the Yankees win game 5, we still get the top two records in the AL. Would it have been better to just have been Dodgers-Cardinals and Mets-Braves in the NL

 

No, it wouldn’t have been better. This is such a stupid argument. Beat the team in front of you and stop crying, LA Times.

If you want a sport where the regular season means so much, go watch European soccer.

 

This isn't exactly true. The big European leagues send multiple qualifiers to the next season's Champions League, the most prestigious and lucrative tournament of all. It's kind of as if the Phillies and Padres would be in the playoffs next year while still playing next year's regular season.

 

That still seems like the regular season mattering to me, since top 4 means everything. Hey, just like y’all want MLB!

 

Dodgers are 562-309 since 2017 with 1 very unfulfilling World Series title.

217-107 the last 2 seasons.

217 wins and nothing to show for it.

Hard to fucking do.