# 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:** 7
**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 13, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/121 "2018-10-13T11:02:54Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I think (hope) Counsell is rethinking his strategy. I’m betting he wished he had Hader in the 8th. No, Gio Gonzalez wasn’t in any trouble at all. No struggles. Just the solo HR by Machado. Double checking the box score right now, that was the only hit he gave up in 2.0. He walked one and struck out one. It was a surprising move, to me, but I haven’t watched the Brewers much this season. There are two problems with Counsell’s strategy: one is arm fatigue by the pen, but the other is that the Dodgers, a good hitting team, will become more familiar with each of the pitchers. They’ll start reading the pitches better in subsequent games. I don’t know if the Brew Crew has anyone who can just flat out baffle or blow the ball right by the Dodgers lineup. ---
**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 13, 2018, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/122 "2018-10-13T11:37:27Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > There are two problems with Counsell’s strategy: one is arm fatigue by the pen, but the other is that the Dodgers, a good hitting team, will become more familiar with each of the pitchers. They’ll start reading the pitches better in subsequent games. I don’t know if the Brew Crew has anyone who can just flat out baffle or blow the ball right by the Dodgers lineup. Hader? ---
**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 13, 2018, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/123 "2018-10-13T11:49:38Z")
Counsell’s strategy made sense except for using Gio for only two innings. You go up 5-1, you go all in. You only need four wins. If your bullpen is ragged and the next game is close, you replace your starter with a long reliever or unused starter. I assume Hader won’t be available after three innings and 46 pitches, but everyone else should be with the off day to follow. The trickiest part will be the three consecutive games in L.A… Didn’t the announcers say that Woodruff’s homer was the first lefty vs lefty dinger for a pitcher in postseason history? ---
**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 13, 2018, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/124 "2018-10-13T12:31:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Didn’t the announcers say that Woodruff’s homer was the first lefty vs lefty dinger for a pitcher in postseason history? Yes that’s what I remember too. They also said it went 406’ — not a cheap shot at all. And I love seeing Kershaw’s “WTF??!!” expression. I can look at that all day long. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/125 "2018-10-13T13:19:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Travis Wood did it for the Cubs just two years ago, and I admit I didn’t remember that either. It was in a news story. And now I see in an [article](https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/10/13/brewers-edge-past-dodgers-to-claim-1-0-lead-in-nlcs/) that “He’s one of just three relievers to hit a postseason homer in the last 94 years.” > [@](#): > > Woodruff actually hit a homer in regular season play this year, and was apparently a really good hitter in school. His swing certainly did not look like a pitcher. Now I’m wondering if he could get used as a pinch hitter. ---
**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 13, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/126 "2018-10-13T14:05:00Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Counsell’s strategy made sense except for using Gio for only two innings. You go up 5-1, you go all in. You only need four wins. If your bullpen is ragged and the next game is close, you replace your starter with a long reliever or unused starter. I assume Hader won’t be available after three innings and 46 pitches, but everyone else should be with the off day to follow. The trickiest part will be the three consecutive games in L.A… > Didn’t the announcers say that Woodruff’s homer was the first lefty vs lefty dinger for a pitcher in postseason history? You only need four wins, but it’s game one. I could see it if we’re in game 6 and the Brewers are trying to get their third win or the clincher, but not in game one. It could be - most likely will be - a long series. I could even see bringing in Hader in the fifth or sixth, even with Gio pitching well, but I think Counsell was over-managing here. I’ll concede, though: I ain’t the one who led them to the playoffs. He might know a thing or two I don’t. But the armchair expert in me disagrees with the strategy. ---
**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 13, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/127 "2018-10-13T14:06:28Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Now I’m wondering if he could get used as a pinch hitter. Why not? He could also be a low-risk decoy. It looks like if Shaw starts, Granderson is the only lefty off the bench. I hope it happens. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/128 "2018-10-13T16:01:34Z")
Too many errors on the catcher. Obviously there was some lost confidence in his defense. ---
**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 13, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/129 "2018-10-13T16:06:48Z")
Enjoyed seeing pre-game predictions going down the tubes. The unstoppable Kershaw and the impervious Brewers bullpen - nope. Hope that reality continues to overturn “expert” analysis. 🙂 ---
**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 14, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/130 "2018-10-14T01:35:59Z")
Looks like my expert analysis is correct: Counsell is fucking blowing the NLCS for Milwaukee and if he doesn’t change tactics now, it’s over. His vaunted bullpen nearly cost the Brewers a win last night and absolutely cost them a win tonight. Nothing wrong with the Brewers pen, but the whole fucking point of a bullpen is that they relieve starters - when starters need to be relieved. What I said up-thread is absolutely a danger now: the Dodgers have seen the Brewers bullpen. They’ve taken their best punch, and they go back to LA tied 1-1. Kershaw will start game 5 in all likelihood and he will make adjustments. ---
**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 14, 2018, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/131 "2018-10-14T05:50:36Z")
Astros look very strong. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/132 "2018-10-14T15:24:03Z")
Let’s go, Astros!!! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/133 "2018-10-14T19:33:55Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Looks like my expert analysis is correct: Counsell is fucking blowing the NLCS for Milwaukee and if he doesn’t change tactics now, it’s over. The series is tied. How, incidentally, does he avoid the home run by Turner? Turner hit it off Milwaukee’s best relief pitcher, in the eighth inning when you usually use relief pitchers. How do you manage that away? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/134 "2018-10-14T19:38:11Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > And now I see in an [article](https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/10/13/brewers-edge-past-dodgers-to-claim-1-0-lead-in-nlcs/) that “He’s one of just three relievers to hit a postseason homer in the last 94 years.” Well, in the last any years; there have only been three. I found a list of all postseason homers by pitchers and it’s just three by relievers. I don’t recall the name of the first one. Fun facts: The only pitcher to do it twice is Bob Gibson. Steve Carlton homered in the NLCS off Don Sutton, the only time in the playoffs a HOF pitcher homered off a HOF pitcher. The first homer by a pitcher in the postseason was Jim Bagby in the 1920 World Series. In the same game, there was the first World Series grand slam (Elmer Smith) and an unassisted triple play by Bill Wambsganss. ---
**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 14, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/135 "2018-10-14T20:04:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Wan unassisted triple play by Bill Wambsganss. One of my favorite player names ever. It makes it sound like there _were_ three players involved. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/136 "2018-10-14T20:25:23Z")
Or like it’s an alias made up on the spot. “What’s your name, son?” “Bill… uhh… Wams… Wamsgnssssgnsss.” Possibly a friend of Art Vandelay. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/137 "2018-10-14T20:46:49Z")
The NL don’t need no stinking’ DH. ---
**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 14, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/138 "2018-10-14T21:33:26Z")
I don’t think there would be any objections if the NL adopted the DH. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/139 "2018-10-15T01:47:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The series is tied. How, incidentally, does he avoid the home run by Turner? Turner hit it off Milwaukee’s best relief pitcher, in the eighth inning when you usually use relief pitchers. How do you manage that away? In my opinion, he already over-used Miley by bringing him early in game one. And if Miley’s the best reliever, maybe wait until the 9th inning to finish the game. Counsell has over-managed and he’s over-working his bullpen – that’s just my opinion. We won’t have **proof** of that until games 5, 6 and 7. Counsell ain’t Tony LaRussa. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203/140 "2018-10-15T03:26:24Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I don’t think there would be any objections if the NL adopted the DH. This is sarcasm, right? If anything, the AL needs to get rid of the DH and go back to playing baseball the way God intended. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs-2018-who-wins-it-all/822203.md?page=8)