# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/41 "2017-10-04T20:24:29Z")
If I had to bet on anyone, Cleveland is by any objective observation the best team in baseball. I’d want 5-to-1 odds to put money on them, though. ---
**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 4, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/42 "2017-10-04T20:41:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If I had to bet on anyone, Cleveland is by any objective observation the best team in baseball. I’d want 5-to-1 odds to put money on them, though. I agree, though I hold out hope the Yanks can slip past them. I’m hoping Francona not setting up his rotation to have Kluber is game one gets talked about as being the mistake that cost them the division series in the end. ---
**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 5, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/43 "2017-10-05T01:20:56Z")
This is no problem. The Rockies can easily score 9 or 10 runs with the air in Coors Fi—oh. Right. ☹ ---
**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 5, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/44 "2017-10-05T12:26:34Z")
The Indians are the clear favorites, but the Yankees are a dangerous opponent. They’ve gotten throughout the year. Similarly, the D-Backs are a dangerous team for the Dodgers. They’re familiar with each other and Arizona’s lineup is explosive. ---
**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 5, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/45 "2017-10-05T13:48:33Z")
So here are some team lines for Yanks vs Cleveland. ```auto TEAM BA R H HR OBP SLG ERA WHIP BB SO BAA NYY .262 858 1463 241 .339 .447 3.72 1.21 504 1560 .228 CLE .263 818 1449 212 .339 .449 3.30 1.16 406 1614 .236 ``` The teams are close in hitting but Cleveland has the clear pitching advantage. So a bit more power and a better bullpen vs more speed and a better starting rotation. ETA: Very bad thing for the Yanks though. [Yanks hit worse vs Cleveland](https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/split.cgi?t=b&team=NYY&year=2017#oppon::18) than any other team this year. ---
**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 5, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/46 "2017-10-05T14:04:17Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Is an ERA of 81 the highest ever in the postseason? > > The game reminded me of why I don’t really like the AL. The funny thing is that Severino gave up fewer runs than the other three starters in the Wild Card round. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/47 "2017-10-05T16:08:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So here are some team lines for Yanks vs Cleveland. > > ```auto > > TEAM BA R H HR OBP SLG ERA WHIP BB SO BAA > NYY .262 858 1463 241 .339 .447 3.72 1.21 504 1560 .228 > CLE .263 818 1449 212 .339 .449 3.30 1.16 406 1614 .236 > > ``` > > The teams are close in hitting but Cleveland has the clear pitching advantage. So a bit more power and a better bullpen vs more speed and a better starting rotation… I don’t see how Cleveland is faster. New York is a better offensive team because they hit a few more home runs. Aside from home runs, offensively they are the same team; same on base percentage, nearly identical in batting average, walks, and stolen bases. Cleveland is a WAY better pitching team - the Yankees allowed the second fewest runs of any team in the AL, and Cleveland was 96 runs better than that. There is as much difference between Cleveland and New York than there is between New York and the league average. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/48 "2017-10-05T16:23:58Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > This is no problem. The Rockies can easily score 9 or 10 runs with the air in Coors Fi—oh. Right. ☹ That was a fun game though. Every time the Rox looked like they were dead they came pounding back. Hopefully, they wore out the D-bags enough that the Dodgers can make it through. I’m trying to get tickets for Friday but damn, they’re expensive at about $60 for the nosebleeds. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/49 "2017-10-05T17:04:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If I had to bet on anyone, Cleveland is by any objective observation the best team in baseball. I’d want 5-to-1 odds to put money on them, though. If we just flipped coins, the odds against any team (now that the wild card games are over) are 7-1. That’s a pretty small difference. ---
**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 5, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/50 "2017-10-05T17:31:20Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > That was a fun game though. Every time the Rox looked like they were dead they came pounding back. Hopefully, they wore out the D-bags enough that the Dodgers can make it through. > > I’m trying to get tickets for Friday but damn, they’re expensive at about $60 for the nosebleeds. The other day, I looked at tix for a potential Nats/Dodgers matchup in the second round. The cheapest seats started at $220. So I suggest you grab those $60 seats if you can! ---
**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 5, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/51 "2017-10-05T17:33:42Z")
In other news, I saw a pretty interesting ESPN article this morning breaking down the playoff teams and their odds going forward against every other team. I like the article except for the fact that they ranked Kluber as the fourth-best pitcher in the playoffs (behind Sale, Kershaw and Scherzer, respectively). That feels like lunacy to me, though I admit I don’t know what metric they’re using. I certainly don’t think that’s reasonable based solely on this season. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/52 "2017-10-05T17:53:05Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > The other day, I looked at tix for a potential Nats/Dodgers matchup in the second round. The cheapest seats started at $220. So I suggest you grab those $60 seats if you can! I’m actually working on some $70 seats in the outfield but I’ve got to convince my wife that its acceptable use for our quarterly date night. So far I’ve got her down to a complaint that the game won’t end until 1030 at best. ---
**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 5, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/53 "2017-10-05T17:57:00Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > I’m actually working on some $70 seats in the outfield but I’ve got to convince my wife that its acceptable use for our quarterly date night. So far I’ve got her down to a complaint that the game won’t end until 1030 at best. Remind her that you know Dodger fans that won’t have the Friday game START until 10:30PM, so leaving at that time will be a blessing! ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/54 "2017-10-05T18:36:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Remind her that you know Dodger fans that won’t have the Friday game START until 10:30PM, so leaving at that time will be a blessing! That is the main reason I wouldn’t want to live in the Eastern Time zone. Central at least gets things live but they still start too late. Mountain really is the best but Pacific is acceptable. We lose our babysitter at 11 though and I don’t feel like dropping $200 to leave early so now we’re talking about taking a 2-year-old to the game on Saturday, at least she gets in free. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/55 "2017-10-05T18:48:57Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > The other day, I looked at tix for a potential Nats/Dodgers matchup in the second round. The cheapest seats started at $220. So I suggest you grab those $60 seats if you can! Yeah, but the Nats are worth it! ---
**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 5, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/56 "2017-10-05T19:02:11Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Yeah, but the Nats are worth it! Oh, sure. If measured on a per-postseason-victory basis. 😃 Seriously, I am rooting for the Nats in the first round in the hopes that the Dodgers will come to me for the NLCS. It would be my best chance for seeing them in person in a playoff game. Otherwise, I’d have to hope for them playing the Yankees in the World Series, which is not really a scenario I’m in favor of. Of course, neither **silenus** nor **NAF1138** have acknowledged the World Series Dodger Dog they both owe me, so perhaps I’ll just have to head out to LA for a game. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/57 "2017-10-05T20:01:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If we just flipped coins, the odds against any team (now that the wild card games are over) are 7-1. That’s a pretty small difference. Five to one is a significant advantage over 7-to-1 is baseball. If we were down to the final eight in the NBA, I would cheerfully make 3-to-1 bets on my favourite. Basketball is like that. But in baseball, how often does the best team during the regular season win the World Series? It did happen last year - I think the Cubs were legitimately the best team in the regular season. But it usually doesn’t happen, no matter what measure you use. ---
**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 5, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/58 "2017-10-05T20:36:51Z")
Speaking of interesting news, MLB is[investigating the Diamonbacks](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20924879/mlb-investigating-arizona-diamondbacks-watch) over a wristwatch their coach was using during last night’s game. MLB of course forbids the use of electronic devices in the dugout as the Red Sox will attest. > [@](#): > > The Red Sox stopped the practice and cooperated with the league when they were alerted they were under investigation. > > The Red Sox were fined an undisclosed amount, but commissioner Rob Manfred noted in his statement that “all 30 clubs have been notified that future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks.” MLB rules do not allow electronic devices to be used in the dugout. Would love to see Arizona disciplined prior to the start of our series. Either way, my guess is there at least won’t be any wristwatch wearing now. ---
**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 5, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/59 "2017-10-05T23:44:03Z")
So Jose Altuve is a baseball player, I hear. ---
**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 5, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/60 "2017-10-05T23:45:17Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > So Jose Altuve is a baseball player, I hear. “I’m pretty good!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=4)