# 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:** 27
**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 31, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/521 "2018-10-31T13:05:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You are getting rather absurdly carried away here. No one is responsible for 20 wins a year. > > But of course the Dodgers should keep him. > > The irony of people complaining he can’t pitch in the playoff is they said the same thing about David Price and he pitched brilliantly in the World Series this year. You’d think people would notice that, hey, this other big leftie I said was a permanent choker, as it turns out, wasn’t, so maybe my assumptions were off… and Kershaw has pitched way better in the playoffs than Price had prior to this year. Yeah but still, Kershaw’s career postseason ERA is almost double his career regular season ERA. It’s baffling how incredibly dominating he can be during the regular season, and then how normal flawed human he is in October. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/522 "2018-10-31T13:42:28Z")
The Dodgers may not have a chance to trade Kershaw if he opts out of his contract to test free agency. It will be interesting to see how that works out for him should he go that route. He was amazing in 2018, but not as amazing as the previous 8 years. He’ll be 31 for the 2019 season. Back issues have had some impact on his number of innings in the last few years. Fact is, he is past his prime, even though he’s still obviously great. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/523 "2018-10-31T13:43:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > ESPN is part of the New York sports media. Habitual Boston-haters. Don’t take them seriously. Remember Deflategate? It does seem strange to rank Boston behind the three teams they beat in the postseason; three teams they outperformed in the won-loss column. An ESPN writer could make a case for Houston being number 1 in their ‘power rankings.’ According to whatever formula they use for Expected Win-Loss, Houston should have won 112 games and Boston 105. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/524 "2018-10-31T13:44:51Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Now that I’ve learned how to do it, here’s a smiley for everyone who thought the Bosox couldn’t do it: 😛 That includes the great majority of pundits on major sports sites who kept picking Red Sox postseason opponents to win, repeatedly citing their supposedly superior bullpens. Something like 5 of 6 ESPN “experts” favored the Dodgers, for example. They’re very unlikely to repeat though. Winning teams lose a bit of an edge, and there’s excellent competition in the AL alone. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/525 "2018-10-31T13:52:45Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > So, the Giants are good? Hasn’t been true for a couple of years. Note that asahi said “last 5-10 years”. ---
**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 31, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/526 "2018-10-31T14:05:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > That includes the great majority of pundits on major sports sites who kept picking Red Sox postseason opponents to win, repeatedly citing their supposedly superior bullpens. Something like 5 of 6 ESPN “experts” favored the Dodgers, for example. > > They’re very unlikely to repeat though. Winning teams lose a bit of an edge, and there’s excellent competition in the AL alone. Boston fans, forever with the complex. The ESPN “experts” picked Boston to win the WS by a [convincing 20 to 5 vote.](http://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/25024556/world-series-expert-picks-red-sox-dodgers-win-all) I’m surprised the Dodgers even got 5. ---
**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 31, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/527 "2018-10-31T14:07:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Note that asahi said “last 5-10 years”. Yup. ---
**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 31, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/528 "2018-10-31T14:08:54Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > That includes the great majority of pundits on major sports sites who kept picking Red Sox postseason opponents to win, repeatedly citing their supposedly superior bullpens. Something like 5 of 6 ESPN “experts” favored the Dodgers, for example. > > They’re very unlikely to repeat though. Winning teams lose a bit of an edge, and there’s excellent competition in the AL alone. Personally, I was much more concerned about the Astros and Yankees than I was about the Dodgers. It’s hard to explain why, but LA’s lineup didn’t scare me much at all outside of Machado (who ended up not doing much). And in the respective closeout games, I was more afraid of Verlander than Kershaw. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/529 "2018-11-01T00:05:31Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > The Dodgers may not have a chance to trade Kershaw if he opts out of his contract to test free agency. It will be interesting to see how that works out for him should he go that route. I don’t think he should or will. You sign big-money FA’s to win the World Series, and Kershaw didn’t show himself to be a dominant October performer. I don’t see him making as much elsewhere as he would with LA. But he may be just one of those guys who wilts under the spotlight in a high-pressure major market, but would be fine in, say, Milwaukee. ---
**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 1, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/530 "2018-11-01T00:25:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But he may be just one of those guys who wilts under the spotlight in a high-pressure major market, but would be fine in, say, Milwaukee. LOL. This is funny. ---
**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 1, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/531 "2018-11-01T00:58:18Z")
Way to go, Bostonians. > **[Red Sox fans throw beer cans during victory parade, damage World Series trophy](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boston-red-sox-victory-parade-mookie-betts-alex-cora-today-2018-10-31/)** > > Mookie Betts was nearly pelted, and a 19-year-old fan was arrested for allegedly throwing a beer can at manager Alex Cora Apparently, Boston fans were too drunk to realize that throwing liquids is one thing (still douchebaggery but not likely to cause injury); throwing cans full of liquids is quite another. They damaged the WS trophy to boot. ---
**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 1, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/532 "2018-11-01T03:20:47Z")
Given that most of our resident MLB fans are in this thread: [Willie McCovey: Giants legend dead at 80](https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Willie-McCovey-Giants-legend-dead-at-80-13352886.php) ---
**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 1, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/533 "2018-11-01T04:19:29Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Given that most of our resident MLB fans are in this thread: > [Willie McCovey: Giants legend dead at 80](https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Willie-McCovey-Giants-legend-dead-at-80-13352886.php) Yes, a sad day around these parts. R.I.P., Willie Mac, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/534 "2018-11-01T12:41:09Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Way to go, Bostonians. > > [Red Sox fans throw beer cans during victory parade, damage World Series trophy - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boston-red-sox-victory-parade-mookie-betts-alex-cora-today-2018-10-31/) > > Apparently, Boston fans were too drunk to realize that throwing liquids is one thing (still douchebaggery but not likely to cause injury); throwing cans full of liquids is quite another. They damaged the WS trophy to boot. Throwing cans of beer to the players started a few years ago, with the Super Bowl 49 duck boat parade. Predictably, it was [Gronk who started things](https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2015/02/04/gronk-crushing-beers-on-a-duck-boat-with-bonus-partying-edelman). It was all in fun - giving beers to the players on the boats. Unfortunately, this year some fans neglected the common sense lesson that the correct way to throw a beer can is a gentle underhand toss to someone who knows the beer is coming, not an overhand throw to someone looking the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/535 "2018-11-01T13:13:54Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Unfortunately, this year some fans neglected the common sense lesson that the correct way to throw a beer can is a gentle underhand toss to someone who knows the beer is coming, not an overhand throw to someone looking the other way. Yeah, unfortunately this was stupid but not malicious. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/536 "2018-11-01T13:20:08Z")
[Relevant.](https://youtu.be/g02j6rujaLQ?t=29) ---
**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 1, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/537 "2018-11-01T13:20:42Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > …it was [Gronk who started things](https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2015/02/04/gronk-crushing-beers-on-a-duck-boat-with-bonus-partying-edelman). > [@Telemark](#): > > …stupid but not malicious. It looks like we might have a mascot and a tagline for Boston-area sports fans! 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 1, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/538 "2018-11-01T13:29:15Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > …They damaged the WS trophy to boot. Fits with the whole “Do Damage” postseason motto. ---
**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 1, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/539 "2018-11-01T13:38:36Z")
Not a soft underhand toss to someone who’s looking (and wanting a beer), but an overhand throw to an unsuspecting player or coach? How stupid can those fans be? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/540 "2018-11-01T14:50:05Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I don’t think he should or will. You sign big-money FA’s to win the World Series, and Kershaw didn’t show himself to be a dominant October performer. So he’s one of those regular season dominance pitchers who clearly will never be good in the post-season, like say David Price? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=28)