# MLB Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791 "2012-10-05T11:22:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/381 "2012-10-19T02:35:41Z")
Well, Justin Verlander is. But really, no, nobody’s pitching is THAT good. The Yankees went into a horrific team slump. There’s no real magic behind it; they just had everyone had their worst week of the year (well, except Ibanez) at the same time. It happens, it’s baseball. Sometimes it just seems like nobody can hit. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/382 "2012-10-19T02:37:52Z")
They didn’t hit against the Orioles either, but that Verlander guy sure was good. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/383 "2012-10-19T03:09:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, Justin Verlander is. And I think you’re forgetting 16-win, 231-Ks-in-the-regular-season, 0.82-post-season-ERA Max Scherzer. And really, all the Tigers’ starters have been simply dominant in the postseason. It’s not just Verlander. Fister and Sanchez have given up the same number of post-season earned runs as Verlander-- 2. Scherzer’s given up 1. But the Yankees’ hitting also did suck. The Tigers’ pitching just didn’t do them any favors, the Big Potato notwithstanding. ---
**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 19, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/384 "2012-10-19T03:30:21Z")
Well, that was a thoroughly disgusting game. At least we have tomorrow… ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/385 "2012-10-19T03:42:38Z")
Why did Posey start at first base in a play-off game? ---
**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 19, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/386 "2012-10-19T03:46:36Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Well, that was a thoroughly disgusting game. I kind of liked it… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/387 "2012-10-19T04:02:09Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Why did Posey start at first base in a play-off game? Posey doesn’t catch Lincecum. There’s something going on there. Supposedly, it’s just that they don’t “click” on the field. ---
**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 19, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/388 "2012-10-19T04:08:41Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I also have to rub things in a bit, because I am an asshole. But Bwahahahah, Jackson, Scherzer and Coke for Granderson, because the Tigers just wanted to drop salary. Tell me some more about how Cashman is a genius? It’s silly to judge a player’s value based on what he did over a stretch of just nine games. Granderson was third in OPS among the regulars on the Yankees during the regular season, after only Cano and Swisher and ahead of Teixeira, Suzuki, and Jeter. Considering how close the division race was, there’s a good chance they wouldn’t have won it without him. Except for CC today, the Yankee starters pitched well enough to win in all their games. Pettite gave up 2 runs, Kuroda 3, and Hughes just 1. They just had almost run support. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/389 "2012-10-19T06:16:04Z")
Well it makes me feel a TINY bit better about the A’s performance. We at least grabbed a couple games from the tigers, unlike the Yankee$ who completely jobbed out. Bit still. I wish Coco had caught that pop fly in game 2. I really do. ---
**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 19, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/390 "2012-10-19T07:00:45Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Well, that was a thoroughly disgusting game. > > At least we have tomorrow… Yeah but it ain’t looking too good right now. We’re down to hoping Zito has a strong, quality start. He might, but I’m not holding my breath. Sandoval has to go. Trade his ass, get whatever hitting you can get for him. What a total _ **non-hacker** _. Yeah, he cranked one over the fences last night, sure, but his slow running and lack of range at third greatly hinder the Giants’ chances to win. Why did Bochy put all five starters on the playoff roster? He could have gone with four starters, and added a hitter. Why did Bochy put Aubrey Huff on the playoff roster? Huff is DONE. Stick a fork in him ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/391 "2012-10-19T07:35:50Z")
Hey, yo. Haven’t really been a fan of any sport for quite some time, but I found this on [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com) and just had to share it: Joe Girardi at the press conference after losing the ALCS. Seriously, it’s a gem. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it before. [QUOTE=] “Y’know, one thing I know is, is that I’m getting effort from the guys. And…y’know, and…so…I, I, I don’t become frustrated, um. Y’know, we come every day to work to win. It, it hurts when you don’t win, there’s no doubt about it, I mean, obviously, life goes on. Uhh…but, y’know sometimes as a manager, you have to make tough calls; sometimes the calls are simple to make. And, um, you live with them, and you move on. [Someone asks him about the configurations he made and how nothing worked.] There’s a lot of good hitters in that room, and to be able to shut a lot them down is very surprising to me. And, y’know some of the guys who replaced other guys are good big league players that have had a lot of success in their career. And collectively, we weren’t able to get it done.” [/QUOTE] “Well, see, y’know, to win, you have to score more runs than the other team. And, and, we didn’t…y’know, if we _had_ scored more runs, yes, we’d be good, but we didn’t, and that’s…I…uh…I hesitate to use the word “bad”, but it’s, it’s definitely not something that I, as a manager, would ever want for our team. Um…yeah…no, definitely not. But, y’know, as long as the sun rises in the east, we’ll keep our power dry, a stitch in time will still save nine, candy will still be dandy and yet liquor quicker…uhh…and no matter what, A-Rod has a nice personality. Y’know. So above all else, over nine thousand, all your base are belong to us, I took an arrow to the knee, and don’t have a cow, man. Y’know. Uhh…y’know. Yeah. Y’know. Y’know. And…y’know.” Sarah Palin couldn’t have said it better. 🙂 Okay, I’m well aware that after suffering a catastrophic beatdown in a playoff series (particularly for an organization that seems to bear this far more often than really they should), it can be hard to find the right words. And I can understand grasping for an easy cliche to buy some time. But geez, this guy was on autopilot. I almost wonder why anyone even bothered asking him anything at all. Probably the weirdest thing was how _smooth_ it was. He definitely sounds like someone who’s done this before. It’s like a yokozuna delivering the same “I’ll do my best” and “I hope you all root for me” lines he’s given a hundred times before to the point where he can do it in his sleep. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/392 "2012-10-19T09:19:11Z")
I can listen to Joe Girardi explain why the Yankees suck 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 19, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/393 "2012-10-19T12:53:14Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Sandoval has to go. Trade his ass, get whatever hitting you can get for him. What a total _ **non-hacker** _. Yeah, he cranked one over the fences last night, sure, but his slow running and lack of range at third greatly hinder the Giants’ chances to win. Watching him fumble around for the ball at third base, I couldn’t help but wonder: What sound effect could they play over this to make it more comical? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/394 "2012-10-19T13:23:14Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > Posey doesn’t catch Lincecum. There’s something going on there. Supposedly, it’s just that they don’t “click” on the field. Posey doesn’t catch Zito, either. Apparently Bochy is a big fan of the “personal catcher” school of managing. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/395 "2012-10-19T13:39:43Z")
The [Giants blog on SB Nation](http://www.mccoveychronicles.com) had this in their recap of the game and series so far: > [@](#): > > Now we can dig into the rest of the awful. There was a button labeled “AWFUL” somewhere in the Giants’ clubhouse, and beside it was a sign that read “Don’t push! Awful!” And some derelict kept pushing it before the game. > > ``` > Derelict (probably Brad Penny): HEY THIS BUTTON DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. > > Penny: /push push push > > Penny: Man, what a stupid button. > > Penny: /push push push > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/396 "2012-10-19T13:42:53Z")
And, to be fair, it’s not like Belt was hitting. There was a decent chance Sanchez would be a better bat. Of course, he went 0-4 with 3Ks… just one of those nights. I really hope the Cards get to Zito and clinch tonight, because going to SF to face Vogelsong and Cain is not a particularly appealing thought. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/397 "2012-10-19T13:48:50Z")
Giants fans are clinging to irrational hope, like this fact: The Giants are 12-0 in Zito’s last 12 starts. Despite the fact that Zito is crap. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/398 "2012-10-19T14:28:38Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Probably the weirdest thing was how _smooth_ it was. He definitely sounds like someone who’s done this before. The thing about Girardi - and I don’t fault him for this - is that he’s just not going to criticize his players for any reason. Wouldn’t even consider it. So if you take that off the table, there’s not very much to say. The entire team didn’t hit, so they lost. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/399 "2012-10-19T14:59:24Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The [Giants blog on SB Nation](http://www.mccoveychronicles.com) had this in their recap of the game and series so far: Did hand lotion come out afterwards or something? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791/400 "2012-10-19T15:07:53Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Did hand lotion come out afterwards or something? Nope, just a heaping helping of Awfulness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-playoffs/636791.md?page=21)