# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/361 "2025-10-13T16:41:53Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > Why is it considered stealing a win. Because I think most people agree Toronto is a better team and to beat them in their home is stealing. ---
**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 13, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/362 "2025-10-13T16:43:10Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > Why is it considered stealing a win. Not only was it on the road, but the Mariners were coming off of that 15-inning game on Friday night, and a long flight east to Toronto. ---
**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 13, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/363 "2025-10-13T19:38:50Z")
Also, Toronto was 54-27 at home this season and 40-41 on the road. Seattle had to win at least one game in Rogers Centre to advance and getting it in game 1 got that out of the way. It doesn’t mean they’ll win, just that it was a bit of a steal. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/364 "2025-10-13T20:02:47Z")
Curling also has the concept of a steal, scoring point(s) when playing from a disadvantaged position. It seems to be a relatively common idea across sports. ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/365 "2025-10-13T20:03:16Z")
All I can say is, I can’t recall an MLB postseason this good in a long time. ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/366 "2025-10-13T20:18:00Z")
An interesting long-form article from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, on how the outcome of this year’s NLCS could play a role in what is expected to be an intense labor battle between MLB and the MLBPA next year, and which could lead to a lockout come 2027. In short: the vast majority of the owners want a salary cap, to which the players’ union is vehemently opposed. If the large-market, massive-spending Dodgers win the series, that lends more credibility to the owners’ argument that the lack of a salary cap has made it so that only a handful of teams can effectively compete. On the other hand, if the scrappy, small-market, low-payroll Brewers win, the players can point to this as evidence that a cap isn’t needed. > **[Passan: Why a Dodgers-Brewers NLCS could define MLB's labor battle](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46576425/mlb-playoffs-2025-dodgers-brewers-nlcs-world-series-passan-labor-battle)** > > The big-money Dodgers and small-market Brewers exemplify two sides of the MLB payroll divide -- a fact no one will forget next spring. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/367 "2025-10-13T20:33:36Z")
Having done some union contract negotiating, factual evidence has very little influence over what gets settled on. That evidence might affect the court of public opinion, and it might be real important if the contract fight ends up before a real judge. But the tussle here is going to be all about which side has more ability to throw a figurative punch and take a figurative punch. And/or which side has the dictator’s ear. ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/368 "2025-10-13T20:34:43Z")
That would be kind of a Catch-22 bind for the Brewers. Beating the Dodgers today would benefit them in the short-run, but handicap them long run by causing no salary cap to be adopted in MLB. Whereas losing to LAD would suck for now but potentially get salary-cap passed which helps the Brewers. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/369 "2025-10-13T20:42:25Z")
Same for Dodgers: If they win (and that matters to the negotiations) they’ll kneecap themselves when they have to chop salaries or divest half their team to fit under the new cap. But if they lose, they can party on with bigly dollar$$$ next year too. ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/370 "2025-10-13T20:47:05Z")
Padres manager [Mike Shlidt retires](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46583126/padres-manager-mike-shildt-retires-cites-severe-toll-job). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/371 "2025-10-13T20:54:47Z")
Not to hijack off (much) about the question of salary cap or no, but the real problem is the inherent inequality of the local markets. The league can fix that by more revenue sharing between all the teams, or they can fix it by cutting labor costs. IOW either the fatcat owners share more among themselves, or they take it out of their employees’ hides. Pretty obvious how that’s gonna play out. ---
**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 13, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/372 "2025-10-13T21:10:53Z")
Decent start for the Mariners. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/373 "2025-10-13T21:19:21Z")
Yeah. I just sat down at my watering hole at 5:14 to see 3-0 w 1 out & 1 on in the top of the 1st. Yowza! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/374 "2025-10-13T21:35:51Z")
Based on what the Seahawks and Mariners are doing, Seattle may win the Overachieving Sports City™ award this year. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/375 "2025-10-13T21:37:11Z")
Besides salary cap, there’s the issue of differed payments and how that would be figured into any cap figure. Paying a top player a low ball salary but projecting multi-millions into the future is a phoney tactic hamstringing a team down the line… long after the current owner has bailed with their billions. Uh-oh, starting to sound like late stage capital markets, Mr. Smith?! ---
**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 13, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/376 "2025-10-13T22:00:08Z")
And the Jays come roaring back. Now tied at 3 in the 3rd. This is one of the tightest strike zones I have seen in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/377 "2025-10-13T22:04:47Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Based on what the Seahawks and Mariners are doing, Seattle may win the Overachieving Sports City™ award this year The Seattle Kraken would like to poke their head into this conversation. UNDEFEATED so far THIS SEASON two games in. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/378 "2025-10-13T22:06:15Z")
But the Orcas were nowhere close to their previous season results. ---
**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 13, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/379 "2025-10-13T22:11:41Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Based on what the Seahawks and Mariners are doing Don’t forget that the Oklahoma City Thunder, the former Seattle SuperSonics, won the NBA championship this year. Although Seattle fans probably don’t want to be reminded of that fact. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/380 "2025-10-13T22:33:51Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Don’t forget that the Oklahoma City Thunder, the former Seattle SuperSonics, won the NBA championship this year. > > Although Seattle fans probably don’t want to be reminded of that fact. What is the NBA? Isn’t that the league that STOPPED PLAYING ENTIRELY the same year the Sonics left Seattle? There’s been no pro basketball since as far as I can tell. Just quietly went away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=20)