MLB 2014 season thread

The narrative with the Braves' postseason failures was always that their bullpen sucked or their starting pitching came up small, but in nearly every case, they lost because they didn't hit enough.

 

Definitely what keeps me from being all in on the Birds. Three below-replacement-level players in that lineup.

 

The eyes-first guys do, the sabermetricians don't: http://grantland.com/features/mlb-detroit-tigers-oakland-as-rotations/

 

The few games I've seen him play, Paredes has done a pretty solid job at third for the Orioles.

 

And Caleb Joseph has had some nice moments behind the plate. Jonathan Schoop has some highlights.

But those aren't the guys you go into the bunker with.

 

1988 Dodgers beg to differ.
The great Chris Davis was hitting under .200 most of the season.

 

The most incredible part of the 9th inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series was not that Gibson homered, but that Eckersley walked Mike Davis ahead of him.

Eckersley walked 12 guys in 80 innings that year counting the playoffs. Davis had a .260 on-base percentage and .270 slugging percentage.

 

It was very much like Game 4 of the NLCS.

Sure, Scioscia homered off Gooden in top-9 to tie it, but that only happened because John Shelby led off with a walk.

Davis and Shelby often are forgotten when people talk about Scioscia and Gibson.

 

Pretty cool, Hack. Have a wonderful experience but I have a hard time thinking Kansas City is going to do much against Lester.

 

Mathewson
Hoyt
Lester

Q: Name the top 3 postseason pitchers all-time in ERA (minimum 10 starts).

 

The Orioles have played something like .650 ball since mid-June, they are used to winning with these replacement parts.

 

Don't sell the Royals short. They have the best defense and probably the best back end of the bullpen in baseball. Their starting pitching is also pretty good. Yes, they can't hit. But each team has warts.

That said Lester has owned them. If this were a series I'd pick the Royals. In one game, against Lester, I don't see KC winning. Oakland also has a good pen. A 1-0 game wouldn't surprise me.