# MLB: 2025 Postseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 29, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478 "2025-09-29T12:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/261 "2025-10-10T01:56:24Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > it could be he panicked when he muffed the grounder I think that’s exactly what happened. Even a good throw probably doesn’t get that fast runner coming from third. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/262 "2025-10-10T02:00:33Z")
You can see in the replay the catcher pointing to First. He was surprised when it went to him but it was way off the mark. If the Cubs win their series, Dodgers get home field advantage. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/263 "2025-10-10T02:02:28Z")
That is only the second time a playoff series ended on a walk off error, the other being the 2016 ALDS-1 when Rougned Odor committed the error that let Josh Donaldson score. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/264 "2025-10-10T04:13:16Z")
Cubs win and force a Game 5. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/265 "2025-10-10T04:26:28Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I think that’s exactly what happened. Even a good throw probably doesn’t get that fast runner coming from third. The funny thing is that the runner missed the plate coming home. He had to run back and tap home plate. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/266 "2025-10-10T04:33:50Z")
OK, I have almost no baseball understanding about this part, but why is everyone criticizing the pitcher for throwing to home rather than to 1st base? As far as I can see, in terms of distance, he would have actually had to throw a slightly longer distance to first base than to home plate, and Kim (the Dodgers runner) was closing in on home plate very rapidly. Is it just the risk of a collision at home plate that would make the ball harder for Realmuto to catch? The only mistake I see Kerkering making is that his throw was wildly off and missed Realmuto’s glove entirely. But that’s a problem of accuracy, not decision-making. Really, with Kim closing in on home plate that fast, it looked like the Phillies were cooked either way. It looks like Kim would have reached home plate before a ball could reach the glove of either the catcher or first baseman. ---
**Author:** ![W0X0F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@W0X0F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W0X0F)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/267 "2025-10-10T06:03:23Z")
The throw to first base would have been a force out. That takes precedent and it would have been the third out. So Kim’s ‘run’ wouldn’t have counted even if he crossed home plate first. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/268 "2025-10-10T06:09:36Z")
Ahhhhhh okay. That makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/269 "2025-10-10T11:01:39Z")
Earlier I gave the Brewers a slight edge, now it is AT BEST a toss-up. Brian ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/270 "2025-10-10T11:33:02Z")
Damn, I really hate to say this but this Dodgers team looks very strong. FanDuel rates the Dodgers #1 to win the World Series, and it’s not even close. **World Series 2025 Winner** +110 Los Angeles Dodgers +320 Toronto Blue Jays +750 Seattle Mariners +800 Milwaukee Brewers +950 Detroit Tigers +1000 Chicago Cubs For sentimental reasons I’m still pulling for the Brewers, Mariners, and Tigers because of their longest championship droughts. But I don’t see how anyone can beat the Dodgers. But as they say, that’s why they play the game. Remember 2001 when the great and nearly unbeatable Mariano Rivera lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Luis Gonzalez in Game 7. That’s why they play the game. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/271 "2025-10-10T12:18:53Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Damn, I really hate to say this but this Dodgers team looks very strong. I really hate to say this, but you are correct. They beat the Phillies 3 games to 1, in spite of Ohtani going 1 for 18 in the four games. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/272 "2025-10-10T12:59:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Really, with Kim closing in on home plate that fast, it looked like the Phillies were cooked either way. It looks like Kim would have reached home plate before a ball could reach the glove of either the catcher or first baseman. The rule has been explained (no runs count if batter doesn’t make it to first base safely), but there are also some technical considerations as well. It’s actually a bit easier to make a strong throw to first (longer distance) than to home there (shorter distance) because you can throw full-strength instead of the weird half-lob thing he tried to do. Also because you are facing directly at home, which is not the typical starting position for a throw (you want to be perpendicular to the direction you want to throw). Also it’s much easier for a first-baseman to stretch/dig/etc with their giant mitts than a catcher whose mitt is primarily designed for catching pitches. And you can stretch off of the raised first base much easier than the flat home plate. So lots of reasons why coaches _always_ tell pitchers to take the out at first when their are two outs. It’s kind of funny, just this past season I had the exact same situation on the little-league team I coach. Runner on third with two outs in a tie game. Little dribbler to the pitcher with all the time in the world to throw to first. Instead he threw home and was a little high and wide. He confirmed after the game that he panicked and saw the runner racing home so he felt like he had to throw home. No matter how much you coach situations the adrenaline and pressure of a live game situation is totally different. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/273 "2025-10-10T13:01:36Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > But I don’t see how anyone can beat the Dodgers. They have one weakness, which is their bullpen. If Sasaki can consistently give them multiple inning, that might not be as much of a problem. They certainly seemed to be fine last night. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/274 "2025-10-10T13:24:49Z")
With a billion dollar payroll, the Dodgers _better_ win. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/275 "2025-10-10T15:05:07Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Damn, I really hate to say this but this Dodgers team looks very strong. FanDuel rates the Dodgers #1 to win the World Series, and it’s not even close. > > **World Series 2025 Winner** > +110 Los Angeles Dodgers > +320 Toronto Blue Jays > +750 Seattle Mariners > +800 Milwaukee Brewers > +950 Detroit Tigers > +1000 Chicago Cubs While these odds make sense, honestly, if the Jays make it to the WS against the Dodgers, they’re even money. They would have home field advantage, and that matters. They’ll have some players back. They are on a roll, and destroyed the Yankees, and they did THAT without their RBI leader and starting shortstop and with only three starting pitchers. I’ll happily take that matchup. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/276 "2025-10-10T15:19:24Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Earlier I gave the Brewers a slight edge, now it is AT BEST a toss-up. Agreed, alas. The Brewers had their best starter on the mound yesterday, and still got the loss. Their bats were on fire in games 1 and 2, but went silent at Wrigley. Here’s hoping that being back home at AmFam tomorrow night helps. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/277 "2025-10-10T21:13:34Z")
Just a couple of days after they were eliminated, [Cody Bellinger opts of his contract with the Yankees](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46552534/cody-bellinger-opts-contract-set-become-free-agent). ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/278 "2025-10-10T22:48:46Z")
Well, of course he did. He can get multiple years at around the same salary instead of settling for just one or two (player options.) The question for the Yankees is what to offer. If someone else offers 7 years/210 million, do they match? I have no idea. I really enjoyed watchimg him play (except batting in the postseason) and would like to have him back, but he’s an up and down player. I don’t know if the lows are worth the highs. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/279 "2025-10-10T22:51:15Z")
I wonder how it’ll impact the Kyle Tucker free agency market. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/280 "2025-10-10T23:50:37Z")
It won’t. Tucker will go for $400m+. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=15)