1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

2013 MLB postseason running thread

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by LongTimeListener, Sep 30, 2013.

Page 24 of 89
  1. NDJournalist

    NDJournalist Active Member

    If that were to happen, at least you died with your best reliever on the mound. The Braves didn't have to worry about overextending Kimbrel with an off day before a potential Game 5. It's win at all costs, and there is more leverage attached to a man on 2nd, nobody out situation than there is with nobody on, nobody out.
     
    NDJournalist, Oct 8, 2013
    #277
  2. cjericho

    cjericho Well-Known Member

    Great quote by Victorino, "We still control our own destiny." Correct Shane, the outcome of the Tigers-A's does not affect Boston advancing as long as you win.
     
    cjericho, Oct 8, 2013
    #278
  3. Tarheel316

    Tarheel316 Well-Known Member

    Nicely played.
     
    Tarheel316, Oct 8, 2013
    #279
  4. deskslave

    deskslave Active Member

    Carpenter also appeared in 56 games with a 1.78 ERA (and didn't even have the best non-Kimbrel ERA in the bullpen). It's not as though the Braves were rolling a retread out there.

    Of course it's also not as though bullpen fail is anything new for the Braves. And knowing their two-decade track record, Kimbrel would have found a way to screw it up as well.
     
    deskslave, Oct 8, 2013
    #280
  5. JackReacher

    JackReacher Well-Known Member

    Choketober is back. As if there were any doubts.
     
    JackReacher, Oct 8, 2013
    #281
  6. Boom_70

    Boom_70 Well-Known Member

    Juan Uribe seems to wake up every 3 years.
     
    Boom_70, Oct 8, 2013
    #282
  7. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    I watched one day as Juan Uribe could not remember his agent's name. He asked a team muckety-muck to get him on some guest list one day, and then racked his brain trying to remember the poor sap's name. It was great theater.
     
    Dick Whitman, Oct 8, 2013
    #283
  8. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    And out of them, Bodie has only heard of Sandy Koufax and Doug Rau.
     
    Dick Whitman, Oct 8, 2013
    #284
  9. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Yep, they choked. Right. Better not to get there, I suppose. And earlier I believe someone suggested firing Fredi?

    Let's take a closer look at these Braves.

    B.J. Upton was miserable all season. Dan Uggla, the $12 million albatross, was so bad they had to play Elliott Johnson instead in the playoffs. Justin Upton had a nice year built on two great months. Otherwise he was pedestrian. Heyward missed a chunk of time after getting his jaw busted. Two quality relievers had Tommy John surgery. Brandon Beachy never made it back. Tim Hudson probably saw his career ended with a terrible injury.

    In spite of all that, this team managed to win NINETY-SIX games.

    So the Braves get into the playoffs and play what is likely the best team in baseball, a team that definitely has the best pitcher in baseball. This team hits three home runs to win the fourth game. And they choked? Yeah, OK. Fredi gets criticized for not bringing in Kimbrel, and earlier for starting the other Freddy G? Hmmm. Kimbrel is a ninth-inning guy. Now and then you can go to four outs with your closer. Two innings is a stretch. Plus, he's not untouchable. I happened to be in the stadium for two of his three losses this season. Carpenter and the other guy (Varvaro?) had tremendous years and the Braves went with what worked all season. Didn't work this time. It happens. As someone noted, if you go to Kimbrel early and they blow it, he gets ripped for that, too. He went with what got them there and it didn't get them there this time.

    As for Freddy G., he gave the Braves a chance to win. Did you see Crawford's second home run? Down and in, nice pitch. Crawford pretty much took it off his shoetops and hit it to San Diego.

    If St. Louis wins the next game, did the Pirates choke? Or did they lose to a pretty good team?
    The Braves lost to a pretty good team. Given what they went through this season, the Braves had a damn good year.


    Sometimes you get beat. That's the way it works in sports.
     
    Moderator1, Oct 8, 2013
    #285
  10. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    I've got to agree with Moddy here. I understand the impulse because it's the Braves, but the Dodgers are a tough, tough beat in a short series.
     
    Dick Whitman, Oct 8, 2013
    #286
  11. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    I completely agree Moddy. Things have gone perfectly for the Dodgers since June 1 and it didn't stop in this series. Sometimes, it's not about your team.
     
    Michael_ Gee, Oct 8, 2013
    #287
  12. JackReacher

    JackReacher Well-Known Member

    I couldn't tell you whether they "choked" or not. I watched three innings of that series. And I'm certianly not prepared to defend that stance other than to say, well, I just enjoy the term Choketober. I thought it was pretty harmless. Apparently, I was wrong.

    I know how sports work.
     
    JackReacher, Oct 8, 2013
    #288
Page 24 of 89
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page