# 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:** 15
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/281 "2016-10-11T13:19:00Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Well, one of my teams is through, while the other faces an elimination game today. > > Thoughts on how the Indians and Blue Jays match up? I feel like the Indians’ lack of rotational depth is going to hurt them a lot more in this series than it did against Boston. Still, if Kluber can go on short rest twice… Rotational depth isn’t as important in a playoff series. Cleveland has to start three people twice and someone once, assuming Kluber does not pitch on short rest, so basically they’re disadvantaged in one game. They are pretty much equivalently talented teams, and are talented in similar ways; they scored and allowed pretty much the same number of runs, and the only noteworthy difference in approach is Cleveland steals more bases, which won’t be easy to do against Russell Martin. You might as well flip a coin. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/282 "2016-10-11T13:33:50Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Goddammit. 1984 all over again. > > I was hoping the Cubs would make it to the World Series, only to lose it by walking in the winning run in the seventh game. That would be an **awesome** way to blow it. > > Hey, it’s tradition. Was that the Leon Durham game? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/283 "2016-10-11T13:36:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Was that the Leon Durham game? Think so. I have a tough time keeping 1984 and 1989 apart in my mind. Like most ongoing trauma it tends to blur altogether. ☹ ---
**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 11, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/284 "2016-10-11T16:01:54Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Think so. > > I have a tough time keeping 1984 and 1989 apart in my mind. Like most ongoing trauma it tends to blur altogether. ☹ 1984 was Leon Durham’s line drive out to Garry Templeton. I had to look that one up. 1989 was Will Clark’s GWRBI off of Mitch Williams at Candlestick - I was there! That was wild. We are all fans of our own teams, and there are many heartbreak moments. I still hurt over Game 6 of the 2002 WS. As Vin Scully said, losing feels worse than winning feels good, and boy is he right. ---
**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 11, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/285 "2016-10-11T16:04:36Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > As Vin Scully said, losing feels worse than winning feels good, and boy is he right. I will be reminded of this all day tomorrow if the Dodgers can’t pull it together, as I will be forced to wear a Nats jersey to work in the midst of my sorrow. ---
**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 11, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/286 "2016-10-11T16:08:47Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I will be reminded of this all day tomorrow if the Dodgers can’t pull it together, as I will be forced to wear a Nats jersey to work in the midst of my sorrow. Ouch, man. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/287 "2016-10-11T16:25:46Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Think so. > > I have a tough time keeping 1984 and 1989 apart in my mind. Like most ongoing trauma it tends to blur altogether. ☹ I was thinking of a series against the Padres where somebody boots a grounder…that I think the somebody was Leon Durham. ---
**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 11, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/288 "2016-10-11T16:52:33Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Are we talking about the plat at 1st when the Cubs 1B pulled his foot off the bag? If so, from all the replays shown, the batter was not clearly out. The 1B may or may not have had his foot touching the bag when he caught the ball. No, we are not talking about that play. We are talking about the play that ended the top of the 13th, with David Ross grounding into a double play. You could see with the naked eye that the ump got the call right, and on the first replay it was as clear as day that Ross was out, yet they took forever to make the call. [Here’s the play.](http://m.mlb.com/video/v1205308183/chcsf-gm3-giants-turn-two-after-call-stands-in-13th/?game_pk=487609) I’m rooting for the Cubs, so i would have been happy with a “safe” call, but it was out. ---
**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 11, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/289 "2016-10-11T16:53:50Z")
The Dodgers have announced (in what is probably not much of a surprise) that Kershaw will be starting today’s elimination game. If they survive today, it’s kind of a toss-up whether Rich Hill or Julio Urias would start Game 5. But that’s a concern for another day. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/290 "2016-10-11T17:35:14Z")
It would have to be Hill, wouldn’t it? If you’re going to use Urias you might as well have him on regular rest in game 4 and Kershaw on regular rest in game 5. ---
**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 11, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/291 "2016-10-11T17:37:36Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > The Dodgers have announced (in what is probably not much of a surprise) that Kershaw will be starting today’s elimination game. If they survive today, it’s kind of a toss-up whether Rich Hill or Julio Urias would start Game 5. > > But that’s a concern for another day. I think it’s going to backfire on them, but it’s the right call. It’s do-or-die; if he’s physically able to pitch, you have to put your ace on the mound. There’s no point in saving him for tomorrow if the season ends today. ---
**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 11, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/292 "2016-10-11T17:54:41Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I think it’s going to backfire on them, but it’s the right call. It’s do-or-die; if he’s physically able to pitch, you have to put your ace on the mound. There’s no point in saving him for tomorrow if the season ends today. Yeah, I agree. Even going beyond the use-your-best-pitcher-in-a-do-or-die-situation argument, Urias throws a lot of pitches and does not go deep into games. And the Dodgers are in no position to go into this one expecting the bullpen to carry five innings. > [@Rysto](#): > > It would have to be Hill, wouldn’t it? If you’re going to use Urias you might as well have him on regular rest in game 4 and Kershaw on regular rest in game 5. I am guessing, of course, but if the Dodgers get to Game 5, I think they’ll wind up starting Urias and bringing Hill in for long relief as needed. The organization seems very concerned about using Hill on short rest with his blister issues, and Urias (though, again, he used a lot of pitches) was successful against the Nats in DC a couple of months ago. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/293 "2016-10-11T23:54:58Z")
I hope they didn’t leave Kershaw in too long. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/294 "2016-10-11T23:59:30Z")
Apparently they did. Tied up at 5-5. ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/295 "2016-10-12T00:05:33Z")
I’m not sure why I bother planning for retirement when it’s obvious baseball is going to kill me long before then. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/296 "2016-10-12T00:11:56Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Apparently they did. Tied up at 5-5. I’ve only been watching this game off-and-on, but I think the Dodgers got greedy trying to get 7 innings out of Kershaw. He’s pitching on a short rest, which is notoriously tough on pitchers. He gave them 6 good innings, but with his pitch count at 90 or so and a three run lead, that should have been it. Get 3 decent innings out of your bullpen and then figure out tomorrow tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/297 "2016-10-12T00:16:47Z")
I am sure Kershaw wanted to stay in. That is his style. But, gee, this is an elimination game! ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/298 "2016-10-12T00:20:55Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > No, we are not talking about that play. > > We are talking about the play that ended the top of the 13th, with David Ross grounding into a double play. You could see with the naked eye that the ump got the call right, and on the first replay it was as clear as day that Ross was out, yet they took forever to make the call. > > [Here’s the play.](http://m.mlb.com/video/v1205308183/chcsf-gm3-giants-turn-two-after-call-stands-in-13th/?game_pk=487609) > > I’m rooting for the Cubs, so i would have been happy with a “safe” call, but it was out. Thanks for the explanation. For this play in the top of the 13th, yeah like another poster up thread said, I wonder what took them so long to uphold the call on the field? I mean we’re all looking at the replays, over and over, and David Ross is clearly out. It was clear from the 1st replay. Reminds me of ABC TV’s Monday Night Football when Joe Theisman’s leg was broken by Lawrence Taylor. Everyone watching TV saw it, but Howie, Dandy Don and Gifford, as well as everyone in the ABC studio, didn’t see the leg snap and held together only by his sock, and they kept playing the replay over and over. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/299 "2016-10-12T00:25:42Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I’ve only been watching this game off-and-on, but I think the Dodgers got greedy trying to get 7 innings out of Kershaw. He’s pitching on a short rest, which is notoriously tough on pitchers. Yup. Even if your ace on short rest really is your best available pitcher to start the game, he is not going to stay your best pitcher as deep into the game as he would be on a regular day. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171/300 "2016-10-12T00:51:10Z")
All is good. Game 5 in Washington! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-and-here-comes-the-post-season/767171.md?page=16)