# MLB 2021 Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [October 5, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930 "2021-10-05T13:47:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/361 "2021-11-01T15:27:56Z")
Incidentally, I’m fairly confident Atlanta will continue to blow the Series. It’s what they do, and Game 5 is a microcosm of it. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/362 "2021-11-01T15:30:12Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Who thought fans would enjoy listening to that nasal whine for three hours? The big-wigs at ESPN apparently. When he only has a few minutes or seconds, he can be quite insightful. He can be good in the studio. But yeah, give him 9 innings to fill, and it’s obvious he’s not a great extemporaneous analyst. For Sunday nights, ESPN ought to keep Jessica Mendoza and find better commentators to replace ARod and Matt Vasgersian. But if history is any guide, they’ll do the opposite and double down on their poor choices. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/363 "2021-11-01T15:33:41Z")
I’ll be looking forward to Pete Rose and Fran Drescher, then. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/364 "2021-11-01T15:35:19Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > For Sunday nights, ESPN ought to keep Jessica Mendoza and find better commentators to replace ARod and Matt Vasgersian. I know Dan Schulman resigned from the lead commentator position on Sunday night baseball, but ESPN needs to lure him back with whatever it takes. At least Pete Rose is no longer announcing, either live or in the studio. At least, I hope he isn’t. He was terrible. Ninja’ed by @BlankSlate! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/365 "2021-11-01T15:45:34Z")
I like the idea of allowing home markets to get their local commentators, radio or TV, as an alternate feed. The Houston radio team is really good. The TV team less so, but still vastly better than the national broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2021, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/366 "2021-11-02T02:20:44Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I know Dan Schulman resigned from the lead commentator position on Sunday night baseball, but ESPN needs to lure him back with whatever it takes. Shulman is probably the best baseball play by play man alive. I am immensely proud he’s Canadian and listening to him do Jays games is a huge privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/367 "2021-11-02T02:26:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Shulman is probably the best baseball play by play man alive. He is also the best college basketball announcer on the planet. I hate it when he’s paired with Dick Vitale. /endhijack ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/368 "2021-11-03T02:46:03Z")
Congrats to the Braves… ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/369 "2021-11-03T03:09:52Z")
The game’s over? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/370 "2021-11-03T03:31:14Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > John Smoltz, on the other hand, is a terrible color commentator. How has he lasted this long? Great player in his day but I have to mute the games in case he says anything. Not at all. He is quite good. His insights as a former ace are spot on. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/371 "2021-11-03T03:34:01Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > The game’s over? As of this writing, not quite. 2 outs, bottom of the 9th. But, it’s 7-0, so it’s been effectively over for a couple of innings. Edit, a minute later: **now** it’s over. Congrats to the Braves! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/372 "2021-11-03T03:57:05Z")
Jorge Soler, MVP ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/373 "2021-11-03T04:00:28Z")
Yeah Soler was my pick too. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/374 "2021-11-03T04:51:33Z")
Soler was a pretty clear pick. He didn’t just do the most damage; he did all his damage in the games Atlanta won. Atlanta outplayed Houston, by a lot. They outplayed LA and Milwaukee, too. They played sensationally all October and absolutely were the best team. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/375 "2021-11-03T06:23:09Z")
lol now ill have to eat s–t the rest of the year with a braves fan I’ve had a rivalry with for 20 years lol …90 percent of the time the dodgers spanked the braves except that one time they won … now they got lucky yet again … almost makes me wish the giants had won … just a gogl of zeroes .1 percent of almost ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/376 "2021-11-03T13:39:35Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Jorge Soler, MVP And the Royals got a 23-year old A-ball pitcher Kasey Kalich in the trade. I’m not a big fan or talent evaluator, but it seems like the Braves did well there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/377 "2021-11-03T15:03:38Z")
Congrats Braves! I was rooting for them, or more like rooting against the Astros. (Plus I pretty much always root for the NL team.) I’ve only been passively following this season, so the Braves were completely off my radar while I was watching the Dodgers and Giants duke it out in the west, and the White Sox faring well here at home. But, shit, the Braves were 52-55 on Aug. 1? I had no idea they were so mediocre (record-wise) that late into the season. That’s a pretty incredible feat. There’s gotta be some Elias Sports Bureau stat for that. Sure, the NL East was a weak field but, still. Talk about getting hot and staying hot at the right time. Great job! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/378 "2021-11-03T15:13:44Z")
The Braves also benefited from the Nats fire sale and the rest of the NL East also basically in ‘wait until next year’ after the trade deadline. Admittedly, the Mets were hammered by injuries all year as well. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/379 "2021-11-03T15:53:36Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > > > John Smoltz, on the other hand, is a terrible color commentator. How has he lasted this long? Great player in his day but I have to mute the games in case he says anything. > > Not at all. He is quite good. His insights as a former ace are spot on. I’ll add another vote for terrible. He seems to actively dislike baseball. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930/380 "2021-11-03T16:06:44Z")
From this Nats fan, congratulations to the Braves! They deserved it. I was pulling for them to win it all, because my best friend’s dad is a fan. The Braves were my first love, until the Nats moved to town. (Thank TBS for that.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2021-playoffs/951930.md?page=20)