# MLB Playoffs 2018: Who Wins It All? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 30, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203 "2018-09-30T04:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**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 29, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/481 "2018-10-29T13:11:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I thought Pearce was the correct choice for MVP. He had the highest WPA in the series (0.63) which works pretty good as an indicator in a short series of who really was most valuable. Price would have been a decent choice too. > > By WPA, the Most Valuable Most Valuable Player in a World Series in the live ball era is Jack Morris in 1991, at 1.26. Me, I was picking Price. But yeah Pearce was a decent choice. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/482 "2018-10-29T13:16:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I thought Pearce was the correct choice for MVP. He had the highest WPA in the series (0.63) which works pretty good as an indicator in a short series of who really was most valuable. Price would have been a decent choice too. > > By WPA, the Most Valuable Most Valuable Player in a World Series in the live ball era is Jack Morris in 1991, at 1.26. It’s too bad there’s no ‘above and beyond’ kind of award for Eovaldi. In the post-season, second-most innings pitched, including basically an entire game in relief; second lowest ERA and WHIP for anyone who pitched at least 10 innings; his only loss was in the 18th inning! Even WS alone, second-lowest ERA (after Kelly who didn’t give up a run in six innings) and lowest WHIP on the team, and second-most innings pitched. Again only taking a loss because 18th inning. ---
**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 29, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/483 "2018-10-29T14:04:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > –Ben Jacobs, _The Guardian_ Oooh, that’s a cheery thought. Now I’m happily imagining my great great grandkids chanting “Twenty Eightteen” in Xiaomi Yankee Stadium someday. ---
**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 29, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/484 "2018-10-29T14:06:21Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > It’s too bad there’s no ‘above and beyond’ kind of award for Eovaldi… There is, sort of. He’s a free agent, so his “above and beyond” award will be measured in dollars and years. ---
**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 29, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/485 "2018-10-29T15:24:09Z")
Congrats Red Sox! And thank you for giving the Giants their 30th consecutive successful season. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/486 "2018-10-29T15:40:44Z")
An amazing series: the most suspenseful WS game ever buried in the middle of a very un-suspenseful series. In retrospect, Game 3 just showed that, even when Boston was at its worst, the Dodgers only barely had enough to beat them. With the win, Boston breaks up a streak of each-season-different winners. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/487 "2018-10-29T16:42:35Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Well, for six months of the regular season, the Red Sox basically squashed the rest of the league like a bug. Then, in the playoffs, they … squashed the rest of league like a bug. What were they, something like 11-3 versus the 100 win Yankees, the 103 win Astros, and the red hot Dodgers? > > I’ve run out of superlatives for that team, I truly have. Whatever criticism there may be of Roberts, after seeing the Sox methodically dismantle three excellent teams I have to think that the best manager in the world wouldn’t have won four games against them. > [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > With the win, Boston breaks up a streak of each-season-different winners. That will be news to the Astros. Or are you projecting for 2019?😉 No team has won consecutive titles for 18 years, since the Yankees’ run from 1998-2000. I believe this is the longest such run since the World Series started. The next longest was 13 years from 1979-1991, bracketed by consecutive championships by the Yankees and Blue Jays. ---
**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 29, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/488 "2018-10-29T17:28:41Z")
Wow, what a team. I had so many disagreements with Alex Cora’s decision making that I now have to question the way I think about baseball. Bill Simmons said on his podcast this morning described Cora’s as the most “go for the kill” manager ever. It’s pretty true. All through the series Cora did what he thought was best for _right now_ and let’s worry about the next inning when it comes. It didn’t work out every time, but enough to win the WS 4-1, so hard to complain. Steve Pearce is the MVP. I would have said co-MVPs but I assume Chevy only brought one Silverado. And let’s face it, David Price could buy a hundred trucks today if he wanted. Pearce is only making a measly six and a quarter million (not that it matters for MVP purposes). > [@Colibri](#): > > That will be news to the Astros. Or are you projecting for 2019?😉 > > No team has won consecutive titles for 18 years, since the Yankees’ run from 1998-2000. I believe this is the longest such run since the World Series started. The next longest was 13 years from 1979-1991, bracketed by consecutive championships by the Yankees and Blue Jays. Probably he means by league, dating back to 2012. 12 Giants 13 Red Sox 14 Giants 15 Royals 16 Cubs 17 Astros 18 Red Sox ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/489 "2018-10-29T17:36:55Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Probably he means by league, dating back to 2012. > 12 Giants > 13 Red Sox > 14 Giants > 15 Royals > 16 Cubs > 17 Astros > 18 Red Sox If that’s what was meant, it’s not that remarkable a streak, considering the last one was 2010-2012. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/490 "2018-10-29T17:54:52Z")
No, what I was trying to say in a very inarticulate way was that we had had three straight teams win who had not won in a long while (or ever) prior. The 2014 win by the Giants was their third in five years. With this win, the Sox have their second in six years (and fourth in 15). I liked the fact we were on a roll of crowning champions who hadn’t tasted it in a while. Had the Dodgers won, it would have been 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/491 "2018-10-29T18:26:57Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > No, what I was trying to say in a very inarticulate way was that we had had three straight teams win who had not won in a long while (or ever) prior. The 2014 win by the Giants was their third in five years. With this win, the Sox have their second in six years (and fourth in 15). I liked the fact we were on a roll of crowning champions who hadn’t tasted it in a while. Had the Dodgers won, it would have been 30 years. Fair enough, then. All other things being equal, I generally root for the team that’s been longest denied. So I was rooting for the Brewers over the Dodgers, and Dodgers over the Red Sox. I do like the fact that teams like the Nationals, Rockies, Indians, Brewers, Mets, and others that have never won or not won for decades have been in the playoffs in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/492 "2018-10-29T18:36:27Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > You could probably construct a version of WPA that measures the shift in probability of winning the series, rather than each individual game; Morris would probably do even better in that measure. I wonder if it’d be different? The thing I like about it for a series MVP is that the shift in winning the series is immediately connected to winning the game you’re playing. I might not be seeing the entire picture, though. The highest WPA I could find for a position player - the top few were all pitchers - was David Freese in 2011, which I imagine surprises no one. ---
**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 29, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/493 "2018-10-29T21:44:56Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > This series is exposing one Dodgers weakness (and there aren’t many) — middle relief. The Dodgers had a hard time getting runners across the plate, which sounds like a Joe Morgan thing to say, but their offensive production earlier in the playoffs gave pretty strong indications that they weren’t in the same class as Boston. They did make the games competitive, nevertheless. The Dodgers are obviously a good team; Boston is a great team - probably the best since the 1998 Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/494 "2018-10-29T23:43:52Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > All through the series Cora did what he thought was best for _right now_ and let’s worry about the next inning when it comes. It didn’t work out every time, but enough to win the WS 4-1, so hard to complain. One does have to wonder why it took so long for the first manager to realize his pitchers have all winter to rest up and there’s no need to save them. Having all those starters pitch in relief, or at least warm up, on multiple consecutive days, and then be dominant starting the next day was just eye-popping. Look for that to become The Way It’s Done in future Series. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/495 "2018-10-30T01:29:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > One does have to wonder why it took so long for the first manager to realize his pitchers have all winter to rest up and there’s no need to save them. Having all those starters pitch in relief, or at least warm up, on multiple consecutive days, and then be dominant starting the next day was just eye-popping. Look for that to become The Way It’s Done in future Series. I agree 100%. It’s been maddening to see managers coddle their staff in the World Series like it’s April 15. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/496 "2018-10-30T01:54:19Z")
Well, I came through as promised after a brief slip-up (watched a few recorded innings of the Red Sox’s game 2 win, paid for it with that extra-inning loss on Friday). By not tuning in to the final two games I assured a Sox championship, following up on my perfect ALDS and ALCS record. The least the Red Sox can do is send me a free t-shirt and let me throw out the first pitch of 2019 in Fenway (I might be wild but won’t bounce one like Yaz). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/497 "2018-10-30T02:17:42Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The least the Red Sox can do is send me a free t-shirt and let me throw out the first pitch of 2019 in Fenway (I might be wild but won’t bounce one like Yaz). I disagree. I’m pretty sure they can do less than that. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/498 "2018-10-30T03:34:55Z")
Just read that game 4 lasted longer than the 1939 World Series in its entirety (Yanks 4-0 over the Reds, all 4 games totalled 7 hours, 4 minutes). ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/499 "2018-10-30T13:30:35Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > You could probably construct a version of WPA that measures the shift in probability of winning the series, rather than each individual game; Morris would probably do even better in that measure. But that, like WPA in general, overvalues the latest game/hit too much. Obviously, winning game 7 shifts the probability of winning the series more than any other game, but every game was equally necessary and valuable to win the series. Imagine a series where every half-inning except the top of the ninth, each team hit a two-out nobody-on home run, with no other hits or baserunners (so home team wins 9-8 every game) By WPA, the last homerun (in the 7th game bottom of the 9th) is massive: it shifts the chance of winning the series from a little bit above 50% to 100%. But, retrospectively, every other home run was equally important; the win would not have happened without it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/500 "2018-10-30T13:38:12Z")
Now that I’ve learned how to do it, here’s a smiley for everyone who thought the Bosox couldn’t do it: :p. And that’s for next year, too. A team does not play that great for only one season. I hereby predict a Red Sox dynasty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=26)