# MLB. And here comes the Post Season! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 29, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171 "2016-09-29T00:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/181 "2016-10-07T18:57:48Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Texas better figure out some offense in a hurry because it sure doesn’t look like their pitching is going to be the answer in this series. I don’t know what happened to the Jays offence in September, but they sure seem to have figured it out now. Sent from my adequate mobile device. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/182 "2016-10-07T19:33:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t mean to be Mister Negative, but > > 1. You’ve basically described how MLB games work. Starters are hit harder the third time through the order, > > 2. This obviously does not describe how the Giants won the Wild Card game, and > > 3. The reason the Giants won the World Series three times in five years is the same reason a team always win the World Series; they had more guys who got hot than the other team did. That just happens, and there is no real reason to think it’s likelier to happen this year. > I went through the linescores of all the Giants playoff games in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and honestly, I just don’t see that pattern. They were just as likely to jump out to an early lead and hold on to it as they were to beat up the starter on their third turn, and just as likely to win the game against a relief pitcher. > > The recurring theme in San Francisco’s playoff glories has been fantastic _pitching_. > > I mean, these are all professional ballplayers; I have difficulty believing the Giants are consistently intimidating people into losing, as opposed to just playing better baseball. Makes you wonder why the 2011 club couldn’t do this in the stretch drive to make the playoffs. They beat the Mets because Madison Bumgarner went out and pitched flawlessly. Noah Syndergaard also pitched extremely well, racking up strikeouts and breezing through the first part of the order. But Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey worked more efficiently. The Mets chased bad pitches high and out of the zone and the Giants were more patient at the plate. It will be interesting to see the Cubs and how they approach their hitting. They’ve had a tougher time with lefties than with righties but they will probably only see one LH pitcher (MadBum) in game 3. Maddon also emphasizes plate discipline, so I think this could be the toughest post-season opponent yet for the Giants since the start of their 2010 run. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/183 "2016-10-07T19:41:30Z")
Oh Please Oh Lord, let this finally be the year I don’t have to [sing this sorry song.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/184 "2016-10-07T20:00:33Z")
Boy, that’s one you really want to have for the Red Sox. Your ace, Porcello, against a pitcher who’s really not all that good, Trevor Bauer. Now they’re going to have to beat Kluber at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/185 "2016-10-07T20:09:26Z")
How the hell is Liriano still standing after that?!? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/186 "2016-10-07T20:25:17Z")
All those months of neck strengthening exercises paid off. [http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/10/07/blue-jays-francisco-liriano-line-drive-neck-head-alds-rangers](http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/10/07/blue-jays-francisco-liriano-line-drive-neck-head-alds-rangers) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/187 "2016-10-07T21:43:11Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I guess it’s fairly obvious that this series coverage is going to be all Ortiz all the fucking time. As long as we’re bashing TV coverage (which is a favorite pastime anyway), here’s what I’ve grown to hate: we can’t see anything happy and joyous without spending an equal amount of time looking at the losers. Somebody hits a home run (say, Conor Galaspie) we have to see the Mets pitcher, and the Mets dugout, and Syndergaard, all making boo-boo faces as their playoff hopes are dashed. F that. I want to watch somebody circling the bases, uninterrupted by life’s slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. ---
**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 7, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/188 "2016-10-07T21:50:29Z")
Flor de Caña rum? Check. Squeeze of lime? Check. Dodgers game on the TV? Check. (In a couple of hours at least.) Fuck the Giants? Check. Life is good. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/189 "2016-10-07T23:35:03Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Is it contradictory to wish someone “Good luck!” while simultaneously hoping their dreams are horribly, mercilessly dashed? Not at all. I, for one, hope with all of my heart that the Dodgers are all lucky enough that none of them are permanently injured during this series 🙂 ---
**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 8, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/190 "2016-10-08T01:57:56Z")
Wow…Cubs catch the Giants leadoff hitter stealing, and pick off another at first. SF has run themselves out of two potential scoring situations ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/191 "2016-10-08T02:15:01Z")
Well, the BABIP gods did not favor the Red Sox on this day. Broken bat hits for Cleveland while almost every laser the Sox hit was right at someone. Also, David Price sucks in the postseason. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/192 "2016-10-08T02:49:28Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Well, the BABIP gods did not favor the Red Sox on this day. Broken bat hits for Cleveland while almost every laser the Sox hit was right at someone. Also, David Price sucks in the postseason. Wait, a bunch of broken bat hits but the pitcher sucks? Something doesn’t add up there… ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/193 "2016-10-08T03:48:31Z")
Cubs win! Javier Baez hit a home run in the 8th inning for the only run of the game. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/194 "2016-10-08T03:52:55Z")
Go Cubs go!!! Got a bit of a generous call on that first check-swing strikeout in the 9th, but I’ll take it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/195 "2016-10-08T03:58:11Z")
After Wild Card games where both the teams i was rooting for lost, the Division Series are shaping up much better. Both of my preferred AL teams are now up 2-0, the Cubs beat the Giants, and i really don’t care very much who wins the series between the Nats and the Dodgers. All in all, a good day. Go baseball! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/196 "2016-10-08T05:05:25Z")
[Bill Murray at Wrigley](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuNb8I4WEAAe2f2.jpg:large) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/197 "2016-10-08T05:14:11Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > How the hell is Liriano still standing after that?!? The ball left the bag at 102mh so the answer is “by the grace of God.” Getting hit in the head is a funny thing. Sometimes it’ll kill you or injure you badly or you can’t play for a month because you have a bad concussion. Sometimes it dings off and for some reason it doesn’t really hurt you much at all. Skulls are complicated. Some parts are strong, some aren’t and some are both depending what angle they’re hit at. I was hit once around the top of the head by a glancing blow, one that basically kind of winged me, and I was dizzy for two weeks. On another occasion I took a ball right in the face, a direct hit so hard you could see the stitch imprint on my cheek, and I didn’t even fall down. A little ice, I was good to go. Later the same day I flew to San Francisco on business and my face was bruised but I felt just fine. It was weird. ---
**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 8, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/198 "2016-10-08T05:21:04Z")
Then there was Adam Greenberg, who was beaned in the head with the first big-league pitch he ever saw. It put him out of baseball, essentially. He was able to sign a few minor league deals, but didn’t get an official MLB at-bat for several years. I think he signed a one-day contract with the Marlins, and got his at-bat. If I recall correctly, he struck out. ---
**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 8, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/199 "2016-10-08T05:31:45Z")
A tough game today for the Giants. Well pitched by both sides, Joe Maddon managed well, and Baez just crushed that homer. ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/200 "2016-10-08T05:45:15Z")
Kershaw wasn’t particularly good tonight, but we pulled it off anyway. Can’t really complain. Go Dodgers! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171.md?page=11)