# MLB: 2013 Postseason
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [September 30, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978 "2013-09-30T04:26:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 37
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/721 "2013-10-29T14:32:26Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> sometimes i wonder what they would have done with babe ruth if the dh had been around in his time. his pitching was a major part of red sox winning the world series in 1918, but his hitting pushed him off the pitcher’s mound to put him in the outfield.
>
> would you keep him on the mound, and have him hit as a dh for other pitchers? who would hit for him on his pitching days?
Wow, that’s actually an argument for the DH that I hadn’t heard before! It allows a pitcher to hit **more** , since it gives him a way to bat on days when he’s not pitching.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/722 "2013-10-29T15:02:57Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> sometimes i wonder what they would have done with babe ruth if the dh had been around in his time. his pitching was a major part of red sox winning the world series in 1918, but his hitting pushed him off the pitcher’s mound to put him in the outfield.
>
> would you keep him on the mound, and have him hit as a dh for other pitchers? who would hit for him on his pitching days?
Ruth was a pretty good defensive outfielder for most of his career, so while this might have rested him a little, his team would have been losing defensive ability. It’s hard to see how this would have helped them.
Also, if he’s being asked to pitch and hit full time, you’re asking him to practice two different jobs, which would be hard for anyone and would in Ruth’s case be a challenge, to say the very least. He was a hell of an athlete but not a workaholic.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/723 "2013-10-29T16:07:20Z")
> [@Telemarked for Death](#):
>
> OK, it’s confirmed now. I have to do laundry today.
No! Don’t jinx it! There’s plenty of time to do laundry \*after \*Game Six. Please!
I have a feeling we’ll see Jon Lester get a win in relief somewhere in there … Duckboats on Saturday, book it.
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### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/724 "2013-10-29T16:46:43Z")
> [@Telemarked for Death](#):
>
> OK, it’s confirmed now. I have to do laundry today.
You don’t see Pedey or Napoli trimming their beards because they’re itchy, do you?
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/725 "2013-10-29T17:43:28Z")
> [@Casey1505](#):
>
> You don’t see Pedey or Napoli trimming their beards because they’re itchy, do you?
Damn straight. Remember Bill Simmons wore his [bird crap covered shirt](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/041012) for the entire ALCS and [World Series](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/041028) back in 2004.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/726 "2013-10-29T18:47:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> No! Don’t jinx it! There’s plenty of time to do laundry \*after \*Game Six. Please!
It’s not a jinx, they’ve been freshly laundered before each game so it’s part of the ritual. Thankfully for me and my fiancee.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/727 "2013-10-29T18:48:58Z")
> [@Casey1505](#):
>
> You don’t see Pedey or Napoli trimming their beards because they’re itchy, do you?
I’m not trimming my beard either - and it’s getting pretty full by now. That I can live with.
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### Author:  [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/728 "2013-10-29T18:59:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> He was a hell of an athlete but not a workaholic.
“The Devil finds work for idle hands.”
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/729 "2013-10-29T22:11:12Z")
> [@Telemarked for Death](#):
>
> OK, it’s confirmed now. I have to do laundry today.
you do not! do! not! do laundry until your team either wins the world series or loses a game. one does not wash luck away!
re babe ruth. for a few years they had mr ruth pitching and playing outfield on his off days. he was doing double duty already. having a dh would have had him just hitting on his days off pitching, instead of running around the outfield.
it makes the mind boggle on what he would do with today’s training. his training regime of food, drink, and parties, may be frowned on these days.
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### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/730 "2013-10-29T22:21:04Z")
> [@Telemarked for Death](#):
>
> I’m not trimming my beard either - and it’s getting pretty full by now. That I can live with.
Yeah, I’m glad these games aren’t played in August. A beard in 50 degrees is way better than a beard in 95+.
For laughs, check out @DidDrewGetAHit.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/731 "2013-10-30T00:24:21Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> you do not! do! not! do laundry until your team either wins the world series or loses a game. one does not wash luck away!
One does not want one’s team to stink.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/732 "2013-10-30T02:43:22Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> You counter with a strong assertion that is based on nothing but your certainty that you must be right. Put another way–I can’t be wrong on a matter of opinion. You, however, absolutely can be wrong in asserting there is not room for judgment in this rule, since the plain English of it shows otherwise.
The room for judgement is on whether the fielder was in the act of fielding the ball, or whether the obstruction was sufficient for the runner to be prevented from reaching a base that he otherwise would have made. It is not on the matter of whether or not the fielder was unable to get out of the way voluntarily, as you seem to contend.
But again, it’s clear you’re not going to understand this.
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### Author:  [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/733 "2013-10-30T09:36:53Z")
Okay, game six!! Sox at home, Wacha pitching for Cards against Lackey…
Who’s your pick for this game? Is there a Halloween game tomorrow? (I’m hoping for Sox by ELEVEN, but this is a crazy chess match.)
Post your picks!
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/734 "2013-10-30T12:39:21Z")
I’ll play: Sox tonight, score 6-2 with homers by Ortiz and Pedroia, Uehara goes into an epic frenzy upon getting the third out, Ortiz and Lester co-MVP’s, Ortiz repeats “This is our fucking city!” to the crowd after the game. Fire up the duck boats.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/735 "2013-10-30T13:00:36Z")
Oh, the Halloween question? I expect to see a bunch of kids with Red Sox jerseys and fake beards at my door tomorrow. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/736 "2013-10-30T16:12:31Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> Yes, there is. I offer as evidence the words “very likely,” which clearly means this circumstance is not always obstruction though it usually is. The rule allows for exceptions, though it offers no guidance on what constitutes one.
On this type of play (as opposed to obstruction in which the fielder(s) are making a play with the ball) it is a delayed dead ball. The umpires let the play unfold. (It is not an automatic award of the next base.) Had the runner beat the throw home, he’s simply called safe and no obstruction is ruled. (There’s your exception.) Had the play not been so close, the umpire would have to decide whether the fielder impeded the runner enough to cause him to be out. For example, had the runner been thrown out by several steps, the umpire could call him out with no obstruction. (Again, there’s an exception for you.)
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/737 "2013-10-30T22:01:15Z")
I disagree with both **Zopilote** and **Obesus** , at least partly.
> [@Zopilote](#):
>
> The room for judgement is on whether the fielder was in the act of fielding the ball, or whether the obstruction was sufficient for the runner to be prevented from reaching a base that he otherwise would have made. It is not on the matter of whether or not the fielder was unable to get out of the way voluntarily, as you seem to contend.
>
> But again, it’s clear you’re not going to understand this.
The judgement referred in the example given in that rule is not whether the fielder was in the act of fielding the ball. That’s a given in the example. It’s also not in whether the runner would reach the base. That’s a separate call, made by a different umpire, as **Obeseus** talks about below.
> [@Obeseus](#):
>
> On this type of play (as opposed to obstruction in which the fielder(s) are making a play with the ball) it is a delayed dead ball. The umpires let the play unfold. (It is not an automatic award of the next base.) Had the runner beat the throw home, he’s simply called safe and no obstruction is ruled. (There’s your exception.) Had the play not been so close, the umpire would have to decide whether the fielder impeded the runner enough to cause him to be out. For example, had the runner been thrown out by several steps, the umpire could call him out with no obstruction. (Again, there’s an exception for you.)
i disagree with **Obeseus** that no obstruction would be called if the runner was safe, or so far out that he’s called out. Obstruction is still called. Calling the runner safe or out is a separate call, taking obstruction into account.
So while **Zopilote** and **Obeseus** describe judgement calls, none of them really fit the bill for the exception in the example given in the rule. Where **Stratocaster** is going wrong is that, AFAICT, his whole reasoning for the game 3 call being an exception is based on his not being able to imagine any other possible cause for an exception. Even though MLB and all the umpires agree there’s no exception applicable in that call. Which is bizarre, but there you go.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/738 "2013-10-30T23:56:48Z")
Well, that’s the first time I’ve heard the national anthem played on accordion.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/739 "2013-10-31T01:27:58Z")
Okay, so it’s 4-0 Sox, the Cardinals offense is pathetic with men in scoring position (seriously, at this point I think I could get a hit off Lackey before Freese does), and more importantly they haven’t shown any real ability to come back from any sort of deficit. Time to call it for Boston?
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2013-postseason/669978/740 "2013-10-31T01:32:08Z")
M-v-p! M-v-p!
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