MLB 2014 season thread

OK now it makes sense. I could not figure out why in the world Hudson was in the rotation. He has been horrendous the last month.

Bochy is a huge, huge advantage over a rookie manager.

 

Hudson has owned the Nats for the last several years. It's ridiculous.

 

Leitch: The '85 Royals got in the DeLorean and jettisoned straight to '14.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/97295898/royals-speed-bunts-ned-yost-1985-alds

1) Full game of Game 6 of '85 WS embedded.

2) Bye Bye Balboni ...



http://www.royaleswithcheese.com/2014/08/the-500-hats-of-steve-balboni.html

 

So it sounds like everything is falling into the Giants' lap. It always does, though, doesn't it?

As baffling as Hudson vs. Nats is Peavy vs. everybody these days. His 2014 numbers:

WITH BOSTON 1-9, 4.72
WITH SAN FRANCISCO 6-4, 2.17

So that's a pretty good chance for the Giants to steal one of the first two ... then Bumgarner at home in Game 3 ... then for Game 4 they will have a choice between Vogelsong and Petit, two guys whose top-line numbers don't look too good but who are very very strong at home ... and then if it has to go back to Washington they get to choose between Peavy and Nats Killer Hudson.

Me likey.

I'm interested in seeing how Strasburg does. The Giants' recent postseason history has been very good against fastball pitchers who like to get ahead in the count. They beat up Halladay and Lee in 2010 and Verlander in '12.

 

Anyone else bored of mediocre Giants teams winning titles (MLB & NFL)?

 

"... because I'm 58 and ain't getting out of this alive."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/showalters-journey-began-the-old-fashioned-way/ar-BB6Q26G

 

I'm interested to see how Strasburg does, as well. I don't think anyone in DC would be completely shocked if he gets beat up a little bit.

I'm most looking forward to a Fister-Bumgarner battle in Game 3. That game could be over in 2 hours.

If I were a betting man, though, I'd still bet on the Nats to advance. I doubt Strasburg has two bad starts in the series, if it goes the distance.

 

* Wild Card victory isn't really Winner Take All. It's Winner Gets to Keep Trying.

 

That's the tilt that helps the Giants; they historically have done better against hard throwers than junk ballers.

Peavy has been a guy who has willingly taken the pressure so that really bodes well for the Giants, especially on the road; funny thing is Bumgarner has been better on the road than at home this year. Either way though, he's got a lot of great post-season experience to draw upon (conversely, as much as I admired Maddux, he never seemed to throw that epic masterpiece)

 

Peavy always seems to want the ball, but he has not always done good things with it in the playoffs. He has never even finished six innings in six career post-season starts. He had one good outing for Boston last year, but otherwise he has been hit hard in the playoffs.

 

I just look at that Washington lineup, and I look at that San Francisco lineup, and I sure as hell know who I'd rather pitch to.

Nats in five.

 

I think it's gonna come down to managers. Bochy's been here before, Williams hasn't. Got to be able to push the right button at the right time, and Bochy so outmaneverd his foes in 2010 and 2012 it wasn't funny.