# MLB: October 2017 — Welcome to the Postseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 1, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735 "2017-10-01T15:14:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**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 23, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/381 "2017-10-23T13:50:06Z")
Nice analysis, Rick. > [@RickJay](#): > > Man, even I didn’t dislike Derek Jeter or David Ortiz for pounding the shit outta the Blue Jays for 15-20 years. Yep, greatness is greatness, and it’s to be admired. Even if they’re wearing Dodger Blue. The Dodgers are really strong. GO ASTROS!! **ɯǝlqoɹd ɐ ǝʌɐɥ ǝʍ 'uoʇsnoɥ** BTW I borrowed that from somewhere, can’t remember if it was here or somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/382 "2017-10-23T14:09:34Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I realized sometime this morning that the matchup means no really cold-weather games. It probably makes for better baseball but watching teams deal with temps near freezing is always interesting as well. At least modern domes don’t look like domes. > [@4d3fect](#): > > In LA the sun angle at 5 PM this time of year is a bitch. So maybe no torrential downpours or cold snaps, but there’ll definitely be some weather-related hassles to contend with The weather forecast is about 100F and strong winds from the north. That’s going to make long hits much harder. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/383 "2017-10-23T14:09:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The Yankees will be back. I hope the Astros will not be. I’ve grown particularly un-fond of them over the past week and I particularly dislike Altuve. I usually root for the AL team, but I’m making an exception this year. > > As for the Yankees, I think Headley should go back to third, Clint Frazier needs to get a starting outfield job, and it’s time to let CC and Ellsbury go. Trade Bettances for a starter. Keep Todd Frazier as backup infielder but let Torreyes go. Letting \*\*CC \*\*go is easy, but he might be a very economical peice of the rotation in a terrible free agent year if we need a starter. We have 3 locked in and Adams on the way. **Tanaka can op out** and might (though I think he will not). We should make a strong play for Otani if he is posted. But if we don’t get Otani and Tanaka opts out, CC is a very good answer to fill out the rotation. **Trading Ellsbury** is not going to be easy, but it is possible and should be done as the highest priority. \*\*Clint \*\*added to the mix of Judge, Hicks & Gardner will make for a very good to great outfield next year. **Todd Frazier** is a free agent and will get a fairly good multi-year contract from some team. Torreyes is an excellent utility player that costs us near minimum. We should keep Toe. \*\*Trading Bettances \*\*is a good idea at this point, he might be the piece that we surrender to move Ellsbury along with some cash of course. The waters soured for him with the Yanks last arbitration. Many GMs will probably look at him as an economical closer in the making. **Our #1 priority should be to extend Cashman** as GM/VP for several more years. Rumors are this is in the works and Brian Cashman will be the highest paid GM in baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/384 "2017-10-23T14:29:16Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The weather forecast is about 100F and strong winds from the north. That’s going to make long hits much harder. Huh, that’s actually hot enough that it might make it harder for the starters to go deep into the game; if so, definitely a factor in the Dodgers’ favor. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/385 "2017-10-23T14:37:38Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Todd Frazier** is a free agent and will get a fairly good multi-year contract from some team. Torreyes is an excellent utility player that costs us near minimum. We should keep Toe. Maybe you’re right about Torreyes. He can play about anywhere. The other guy we should be looking at is Castro. I’m starting to think his best days are behind him. I am now much happier with Bird at first- we now know he can play in this league, if his injury-prone days are behind him, he’s going to have a great career. I hope next spring, the Yankee pitchers all throw sliders low and away to Judge. He needs to learn how to hit that pitch much more consistently. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/386 "2017-10-23T14:55:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Maybe you’re right about Torreyes. He can play about anywhere. The other guy we should be looking at is Castro. I’m starting to think his best days are behind him. I am now much happier with Bird at first- we now know he can play in this league, if his injury-prone days are behind him, he’s going to have a great career. > > I hope next spring, the Yankee pitchers all throw sliders low and away to Judge. He needs to learn how to hit that pitch much more consistently. \*\*Castro \*\*will probably be trade bait by the end of next season and should pull back a good prospect package to keep the farm system replenished. We have several infielders pushing up currently and Castro has 2 more inexpensive years left on his contract. If the Yanks are lucky, Castro will be dangled mid-season as one of the kids has already proven himself but I think off-season 2018 more likely. [Miguel Andujar](http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t531&player_id=609280) & [Gleyber Torres](http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t531&player_id=650402) are the bigger names getting close. [Thairo Estrada](http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=p_pbp&pid=642731) is the 3rd. You’re 100% correct on \*\*Judge \*\*and \*\*Sanchez \*\*needs to do a lot of work on passballs and catching throws home and smoothly tagging out runners. As you say, \*\*Bird \*\*just needs to stay healthy. He is a very solid player already. (IMHO) ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/387 "2017-10-23T15:25:24Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > This is a pretty evenly matched series, actually. On paper it has to be one of the closest in recent memory. Both are legitimately A-level quality teams. > > The interesting differences are: > > 1. The Astros are a more offense dependent team. They had the best offense in the majors; LA was very good but not that good. The Dodgers are very good at drawing walks and hitting home runs but that’s really all the things they were good at; they don’t hit for average and aren’t the fastest teams you’ve ever seen. Houston, conversely, batted .282 and do everything well. The fact they use a DH doesn’t explain the gap, by the way. > > 2. The Dodgers are a stronger pitching team. > > I prefer the pitching team in a short series, and the numbers overall suggest LA is slightly better, but I think there’s two mitigating factors here; > > First, Houston is the American League team, and the AL is the better league. They won the interleague play season, again, for what I think is the 14th year in a row. Granted, the NL has won a lot of World Serieses anyway, but it still counts, and > > Secondly, Houston has Justin Verlander, who has been stupidly good. Verlander’s greatness does not show up much in Houston’s pitching numbers, since he was only there a month, but his presence makes their rotation completely different; it replaces Mike Fiers, who was one of the worzst starting pitchers in the major leagues, with one of the very best. > > The Verlander factor feeds into the fact that, in playoffs, depth isn’t as important as it is in the regular season. In the regular season, a bad fifth starter or a lack of starting depth can cost you a playoff spot; a good fifth starter makes a huge difference. In the playoffs, your fifth starter is sitting on his ass or pitching garbage time (though Lance McCullers was amazing in Game 7 so big props to him.) If you look at the makeup of the two team’s regular season rotations the Dodgers are deeper than the Marianas Trench, where you can spend 20 minutes, and Houston hits a wall at Mike Fiers. But once you cut the rotations to four guys, one of whom will start once, it looks much more even, especially if Hinch continues the Piggyback Rotation approach of using Morton and McCullers together, and I think people forget Brad Peacock was sensational this year. > > So really I think this series is as even as it gets. > You took a dislike to a guy who beat your favorite team? Man, even I didn’t dislike Derek Jeter or David Ortiz for pounding the shit outta the Blue Jays for 15-20 years. Excellent analysis. Still, Dodgers in 5 for me. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/388 "2017-10-23T17:25:32Z")
A couple of weather facts which might slightly alter tomorrows game: It will be around 100° at first pitch. I heard of a study on the radio this morning stating for every 10° in temp, the ball will carry 3 extra feet. Normally, it would have been more or less 75°. So the ball should carry about an extra 7 feet at game start. Warning track fly balls might become homeruns. The humidity will be very low The wind is a wild card because it will be quite strong ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/389 "2017-10-23T18:24:22Z")
I wonder if heat stress on the players, particularly the pitchers, will have more of an effect. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/390 "2017-10-23T19:51:30Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I wonder if heat stress on the players, particularly the pitchers, will have more of an effect. It’s a very dry heat and they will be in shade very early in the game. Kershaw has given up some homeruns lately. Should be an awesome series. ---
**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 23, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/391 "2017-10-23T23:14:02Z")
Yes, should be an awesome series, starting with the first matchup of Verlander and Kershaw. It doesn’t get much better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/392 "2017-10-23T23:22:52Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Yes, should be an awesome series, starting with the first matchup of Verlander and Kershaw. It doesn’t get much better than that. It’ll be Keuchel/Kershaw game 1; unless Verlander goes on short rest for some reason, he and Kershaw won’t go head-to-head. ---
**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 23, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/393 "2017-10-23T23:27:53Z")
Corey Seager reports being good to go for the Series. Excellent news, unless you’re an Astros pitcher. ---
**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 24, 2017, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/394 "2017-10-24T08:09:18Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > It’ll be Keuchel/Kershaw game 1; unless Verlander goes on short rest for some reason, he and Kershaw won’t go head-to-head. Yeah… someone on sports radio said that today. Obviously incorrect. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/395 "2017-10-24T12:08:50Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > It’ll be Keuchel/Kershaw game 1 That’s announced now, and Verlander/Hill in Game 2. Game 3 is Darvish and TBD. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/396 "2017-10-24T23:53:02Z")
I think it all comes down to the Astros’ bullpen too. Houston has to hope their starters stay in for at least 7 innings. Or have a good lead, which I’ll doubt. Rooting for Dodgers, but Astros still have a chance. I think we’ll know by the end of game 2 where this is going. If the teams split at Dodger stadium, anything could happen. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/397 "2017-10-25T00:02:41Z")
I would think the Astros series with the Red Sox and Yankees would have shown that with the Astros you don’t know until the last game. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/398 "2017-10-25T00:04:18Z")
I figure the Astros need to go 3-1 in the Keuchel/Verlander games and then steal one of the last three; Dodgers’ path to victory probably involves going 2-2 or better vs. Keuchel/Verlander, in which case they’re heavy favorites in the remaining games. (Or who the hell knows.) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/399 "2017-10-25T00:20:43Z")
And a home run from Taylor already! Well, I always say the AL pitcher’s warmup starts in the 1st inning. 😃 ---
**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 25, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/400 "2017-10-25T00:21:56Z")
Welcome to LA, bitches! 😃 Now I have to go get some rosary action going so I didn’t jinx anything! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=21)