# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 37
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/721 "2017-11-02T17:55:33Z")
This year’s Dodgers were a juggernaut of a team. From the starting pitching to the bullpen to the batting lineup, they were impressive. They’ll be back next year, and they’ll be very strong. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/722 "2017-11-02T18:18:25Z")
From the optimism files: my recent recollection is that the Royals lost in 2014 and won in 2015. Any other teams manage that feat, in that order, in consecutive World Series? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/723 "2017-11-02T18:26:01Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We are talking about the National League Champions, right, who made the seventh game of the World Series? > > At the risk of pointing out the obvious, this is the BEST the Dodgers have done since 1988. From that point to this year their playoff record was 22-36 and they never made it past the LCS. > > Darvish blew up twice. It happens; he pitched really well in the division series and NLCS. Cody Bellinger was brutal, too - 4 for 28, 17 strikeouts, and the error that started Darvish’s meltdown. Austin Barnes was horrible, hitting badly and apparently not calling pitches all that well while Yasmandi Grandal sat on the bench gathering dust. Justin Turner played very badly. You can hand a lot of blame tickets out. I’m aware of all of that, and I’m not saying that there isn’t plenty of blame to go around. But when I look back at these two late acquisitions, I simply don’t think they made our team better in any way. Darvish had a great start in the NLCS and Granderson hit a grand slam during one of his first games with us. Besides that, absolutely nothing. Bottom line - The Dodgers, as good as they played in the postseason, were playing better baseball before we got these guys. Their record to that point was nothing short of astonishing. We tacked on, what, 14 losses in a row after getting Grandy. I don’t think we had more than 2 or 3 losses in a row up to that point. Then we stopped winning for two whole weeks. I said it back then and I’ll say it again - it disrupted the entire chemistry of the team. We eventually got it back together, and then relied on an outsider to bring us to victory. It simply didn’t work. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/724 "2017-11-02T18:26:05Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > From the optimism files: my recent recollection is that the Royals lost in 2014 and won in 2015. Any other teams manage that feat, in that order, in consecutive World Series? The two other most recent examples are: Yankees, 1976-1977 Orioles, 1969-1970 ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/725 "2017-11-02T18:29:05Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > From the optimism files: my recent recollection is that the Royals lost in 2014 and won in 2015. Any other teams manage that feat, in that order, in consecutive World Series? My quick research turned up the 1988-89 Athletics, who were the last to accomplish this feat. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/726 "2017-11-02T18:30:20Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > My quick research turned up the 1988-89 Athletics, who were the last to accomplish this feat. You’re right, of course. Don’t know how i missed that. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/727 "2017-11-02T19:40:48Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > From the optimism files: my recent recollection is that the Royals lost in 2014 and won in 2015. Any other teams manage that feat, in that order, in consecutive World Series? By my count, it’s happened 14 times, [del]5[/del] 6 times (corrected) by the Yankees. I think this is the complete list. 2014-2015 Royals 1988-1989 Athletics 1976-1977 Yankees 1969-1970 Orioles 1960-1961 Yankees 1955-1956 Yankees 1943-1944 Cardinals 1942-1943 Yankees 1939-1940 Reds 1934-1935 Tigers 1930-1931 Cardinals 1926-1927 Yankees 1922-1923 Yankees 1906-1907 Cubs ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/728 "2017-11-02T19:52:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > The two other most recent examples are: > > Yankees, 1976-1977 > > Orioles, 1969-1970 > [@markdash](#): > > My quick research turned up the 1988-89 Athletics, who were the last to accomplish this feat. > [@Bullitt](#): > > By my count, it’s happened 14 times, [del]5[/del] 6 times (corrected) by the Yankees. I think this is the complete list. > > 2014-2015 Royals > 1988-1989 Athletics > 1976-1977 Yankees > 1969-1970 Orioles > 1960-1961 Yankees > 1955-1956 Yankees > 1943-1944 Cardinals > 1942-1943 Yankees > 1939-1940 Reds > 1934-1935 Tigers > 1930-1931 Cardinals > 1926-1927 Yankees > 1922-1923 Yankees > 1906-1907 Cubs Thanks, folks. Eight different teams having done it. That’s not too bad. We’re due! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/729 "2017-11-02T19:59:37Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > Then we stopped winning for two whole weeks. I said it back then and I’ll say it again - it disrupted the entire chemistry of the team. We eventually got it back together, and then relied on an outsider to bring us to victory. It simply didn’t work. Yeah, I don’t buy it. The team was simply playing over its head - no one is really that good - and the arrival of Granderson coincided with a flukely losing streak. The thing is, the losing streak was irrelevant. It had no impact on the outcome of the season in any way; they still finished first, and the first seed. These are professional athletes; the presence of two different veterans, neither known for being disruptive assholes, wouldn’t have an effect on their play. They just hit a skid, which happens, and it really amounted to nothing. After the 11-game losing streak (not 14) it was over they went 22-11, including the playoffs when they went 10-4 playing only against excellent teams. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/730 "2017-11-02T20:06:23Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > As an aside McCullers’ necklace rocks. > > Looks like it is electronic the way it flashes. > > I want one. > > Where can I get one? a 40 carat black diamond necklace? tiffany? ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/731 "2017-11-02T21:14:08Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > By my count, it’s happened 14 times, [del]5[/del] 6 times (corrected) by the Yankees. I think this is the complete list. > > 2014-2015 Royals > 1988-1989 Athletics > 1976-1977 Yankees > 1969-1970 Orioles > 1960-1961 Yankees > 1955-1956 Yankees > 1943-1944 Cardinals > 1942-1943 Yankees > 1939-1940 Reds > 1934-1935 Tigers > 1930-1931 Cardinals > 1926-1927 Yankees > 1922-1923 Yankees > 1906-1907 Cubs I believe you need to add the 57-58 Yankees in there too–lost to Milwaukee and then beat them the next year. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/732 "2017-11-02T22:59:24Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > a 40 carat black diamond necklace? tiffany? Thank you. I will put it on my xmas list. And dream. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/733 "2017-11-02T23:14:01Z")
Well, **harmonicamoon** , if you had taken your prediction about the Astros to Vegas around the middle of the Red Sox series, you might have made enough to buy that necklace for yourself. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/734 "2017-11-03T02:09:20Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > From the optimism files: my recent recollection is that the Royals lost in 2014 and won in 2015. Any other teams manage that feat, in that order, in consecutive World Series? Going back a while but Tony Larussa’s Oakland A’s lost WS in 1988 and won in 1989. Edit: Sorry, looks like someone beat me to it. Too lazy to look but didn’t the Yankees lose in 1976 against the Reds and win in 1977 against the Dodgers? There have also been teams that lost in the playoffs and came back to win the next year. Yankees lost in 1995, won the WS in 1996. Lost the playoffs in 1997, won the WS in 1998-2000. Boston lost the ALCS in 2003, won the WS in 2004. Cardinals lost NLCS in 2005, won the WS in 2006. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/735 "2017-11-03T02:17:12Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > The only consolation is never having to see Granderson or Darvish in a Dodgers uniform again. > > When they signed Granderson, my first question was why? We were the hottest team in baseball at the time. As soon as he suited up, we went into a two week losing streak. Aside from one good home run, he contributed nothing and was left off the postseason roster. Did it matter in the end? Probably not, but we never played as good again as we did before signing him. > > Meanwhile, Darvish gave us one good post season start, but completely choked in the series - twice. Take away the runs he allowed in the first WS game he started and we win that game. Take away the runs he gave up last night, and we win game seven 1-0. > > The Dodgers front office will never learn to not fix what isn’t broken. I’ve seen it time and time again, but never with the impact it had this season. I bet Ryu or McCarthy could have outpitched Darvish last night. Kershaw did on two days rest. What a complete waste of time and money to get this has-been. Darvish is still a good pitcher for the right team, against the right team. Houston was the last team he should have been pitching against as a starter. I could see using Darvish in the post-season and in game 3 just to see if he could give the staff a few innings. Roberts’ decisions were generally good ones but the decision to start Darvish last night was one he shouldn’t have made. As for Granderson, he’s a total non-factor except for the money that was spent on him. But he’s not the reason the lineup couldn’t score with runners in scoring position. Whatever hexes he brought to the team were certainly solved in the NL playoffs. The fact is that Houston was just a little better where it really mattered, which was driving runners in with runners in scoring position and making big plays on defense. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/736 "2017-11-04T19:43:44Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Thank you. I will put it on my xmas list. And dream. turns out they are not super expensive…[Black Diamond Bead Necklaces and Pendants](https://www.jewelrypoint.com/black-diamond-necklaces/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Campaign%20%231&utm_term=black%20diamond%20necklaces&utm_content=Black%20Diamond%20Necklaces) picture 3 looks very like mcculler’s. or many trips to crater of diamond park in arkansas to dig up your own diamonds. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/737 "2017-11-04T20:59:53Z")
Thank you **rocking chair**. The pictures just don’t sparkle like on TV. I have been thinking about them. If I wore one, I would probably get mugged. But, they are beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=36)