# 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:** 8
**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 10, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/141 "2017-10-10T22:31:53Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > All of the “analysts” and “play by play” people in all the playoff games are pretty sorry this year. When I turned on the Cubs/Nats game I was so excited to hear Ernie Johnson, an actual broadcaster who pays attention to the game and tells me what’s going on instead of what he had for dinner that I was even able to overlook the Darling’s stupidity for a little while. If you thought Darling was bad apparently you missed Pierzynski on the Astros’ games. I wouldn’t listen to Pierzynski on a dare. I loathe the man the way that I hate Hitler. Only more often. So far as I’m concerned [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tivag5pOBhM) is my favorite AJ Pierzynski moment. ---
**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 10, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/142 "2017-10-10T22:43:28Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I read a tweet from Gordon Wittmeyer that pointed out that, had the game been scheduled to start at 130, they would have had 4 rain-free hours to get the game in. > > The delay favors the Nationals. Instead of Roark pitching, they get Strasburg on normal rest. That’s if Dusty’s smart enough to start Strasburg. Hard to believe he was going to put Trea Turner out there again today; he’s been ice cold. It’s time to give Difo a chance, he’s had a pretty good year. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/143 "2017-10-10T22:54:06Z")
Pitching matchups to remain the same as today, according to an MLB alert I just received Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**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 10, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/144 "2017-10-10T23:15:36Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Pitching matchups to remain the same as today, according to an MLB alert I just received Unbelievable. ---
**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 11, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/145 "2017-10-11T00:24:24Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I wouldn’t listen to Pierzynski on a dare. I loathe the man the way that I hate Hitler. Only more often. So far as I’m concerned [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tivag5pOBhM) is my favorite AJ Pierzynski moment. Thanks for the grin! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/146 "2017-10-11T13:36:55Z")
If Strasburg isn’t feeling a hundred percent, why not hold him back a game? For Washington, both Game 4 AND 5 are elimination games. Strasburg cannot start both games. If they lose one, it makes no difference if it’s Game 4 or Game 5. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/147 "2017-10-11T13:55:11Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Hard to believe he was going to put Trea Turner out there again today; he’s been ice cold. It’s time to give Difo a chance, he’s had a pretty good year. You should play your best players in October. As long as Turner is healthy, he should be playing. Steaks aren’t really a thing. ---
**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 11, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/148 "2017-10-11T14:03:46Z")
John Farrell [out](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20988965/boston-red-sox-manager-john-farrell-return-2018) as Boston manager. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/149 "2017-10-11T16:16:23Z")
Firing Terry Francona seems even dumber now than it did at the time. ---
**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 11, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/150 "2017-10-11T16:23:22Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > John Farrell [out](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20988965/boston-red-sox-manager-john-farrell-return-2018) as Boston manager. I understand this, and kinda saw it coming, but I don’t think there’s anything he could have done much better. Look, if Chris Sale can’t bring home playoff wins, what can you do? The offense was never all that good this year. It’s darn near a miracle they managed to win the East. Apparently Jason Veritek is among the top candidates. Back in April I said look out for the Yankees, they’re going to be better than people think. I expect Cleveland to win tonight, but NYY will be favored to win the division next year. ---
**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 11, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/151 "2017-10-11T16:30:46Z")
The MLB network says that Strasburg is now expected to start game 4 tonight. ---
**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 11, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/152 "2017-10-11T16:40:36Z")
You could make an argument that Strasberg on normal rest for game 4 is a better option on the road and worry about game 5 if and when it gets here. ---
**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 11, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/153 "2017-10-11T17:06:24Z")
Strasberg has been shamed into starting. Hope he turned off the AC and took something to combat the Chicago mold that was getting to him. ---
**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, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/154 "2017-10-11T17:15:05Z")
C’mon, folks! Clearly 12-dimensional chess! Baker was planning to start Strasburg today all along! ---
**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 11, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/155 "2017-10-11T17:26:18Z")
Oh Damn. Now I have to call my bookie back AGAIN… j/k… ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/156 "2017-10-11T18:07:04Z")
This doesn’t give one any confidence that Dusty Baker has any idea what he’s doing. It really looks as though he’s managing to reduce criticism rather than, you know, win the series. I’m fairly agnostic on the subject of Strasburg in game 4 or 5 myself, but flip-flopping like this isn’t a good look on a leader. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/157 "2017-10-11T18:14:47Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I understand this, and kinda saw it coming, but I don’t think there’s anything he could have done much better. Look, if Chris Sale can’t bring home playoff wins, what can you do? The offense was never all that good this year. It’s darn near a miracle they managed to win the East. Boston was the consensus favorite to win the East before the season started. They won it last year and there was no reason to think they were not a favourite to win it again. I think there’s just a general feeling that Farrell, for all the hype that surrounded him when he became a managerial candidate, isn’t really a very good manager. Yes, they’ve won three division titles in five years, but given the talent available to him that was a minimum requirement; no other team has amassed such a pile of talent from both free agency AND the farm system. Farrell managed very poorly in Toronto, where the team got worse both years he was there. He wasn’t Dombroski’s man, either, so he was probably doomed once they had any reason at all. > [@Rysto](#): > > It really looks as though he’s managing to reduce criticism rather than, you know, win the series. I don’t know what the hell is going on in Washington. Dusty Baker has managed a lot of teams and he wins ballgames. I mean, he’s doing something right. But this whole thing is a dreadful PR mess that will mar Washington’s season if this series ends in anything but a Washington victory. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/158 "2017-10-11T20:07:00Z")
What is going on in Chicago? [MLB.TV](http://MLB.TV) says the game is postponed. The weather channel indicates all is well. Are we going to have a game today? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/159 "2017-10-11T20:11:20Z")
Okay. I have the game. All is good. ---
**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, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735/160 "2017-10-11T20:11:55Z")
Gameday is showing the first pitch has already been thrown, so I assume all is well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-october-2017-welcome-to-the-postseason/797735.md?page=9)