# MLB post season: 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 4, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592 "2009-10-04T21:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/321 "2009-10-26T15:41:18Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I personally doubt that the All-Star ratings are any higher because of the WS home field angle. As an American League fan in general and a Yankee fan in particular, even I have to sympathize with the Phillies being penalized by what Cubs or Marlins or Giants may have done back in July. I also think it’s a bit biased for the AL in that the NL is forced to take players from 16 teams while the AL only has to pick from 14. That’s a slight edge in the roster for the AL since they have more flexibility in the selections. Fair point, but MLB makes more as Fox is paying more for the boon that Selig gave them. They asked for something to make the game mean something the the Home Field advatage thing is what they got. I have no clue if it helps rating or not. I tend to agree with you that it does not. > [@Marley23](#): > > There was only one Knoblauch play. On the Swisher bunt, Kendrick just plain dropped the ball. > > The All Star game and alternating years are both stupid methods for determining the home team as far as I’m concerned. I’d rather give it to the team with the best record, although that’s also flawed. And in that situation the Yankees would have homefield anyway. > > I think we’re looking at a good series here, and I still like the Yankees to win it. Thanks **Marley** , from up in the stands, it looked like a bad throw both times. The second one was epically bad and looked like a eephus ball but the first I did not realize was on Kendrik. No method for homefield is perfect, I don’t think the All Star game is really worse than the other two methods. I like the best record get homefield as in theory it should also penalize a lucky run of a Wild Card team a little bit. But I do think too much is made of how homefield is determined. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/322 "2009-10-26T15:50:11Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I personally doubt that the All-Star ratings are any higher because of the WS home field angle. As an American League fan in general and a Yankee fan in particular, even I have to sympathize with the Phillies being penalized by what Cubs or Marlins or Giants may have done back in July. I also think it’s a bit biased for the AL in that the NL is forced to take players from 16 teams while the AL only has to pick from 14. That’s a slight edge in the roster for the AL since they have more flexibility in the selections. Were we on the old system, the Phillies would have home field advantage because it would be the NL’s turn this year. (After the strike the NL held the advantage in odd-numbered years, AL in even. Prior to that it was the opposite; not having a World Series in 1994 reversed it.) But how is that any more fair? It’s purely arbitrary, from the perspective of the teams involved, either way. Basing it on the result of the All-Star Game isn’t any LESS fair than basing it on whether it’s an odd or even-numbered year. You say the Phillies are being “penalized” for how players from other teams played in July, but the other way the Yankees would be “penalized” out of sheer random chance. As it stands there’s no “fair” way to assign home field advantage; you’re either using a system that has nothing to do with the teams involved (All-Star game or alternating years) or else a system that may have very little to do with the teams involved (W-L record, which isn’t necessarily reflective of relative quality when the teams play in different leagues and divisions.) W-L record is a tny bit fairer but it’s also more logistically difficult. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/323 "2009-10-26T15:52:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I have no clue if it helps rating or not. I tend to agree with you that it does not. Here are the [viewership and ratings figures](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/asgtv.shtml) for All-Star Games going back to 1967. The home-field advantage rule started in 2003. Doesn’t look like it’s helped ratings at all, really. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/324 "2009-10-26T16:38:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Here are the [viewership and ratings figures](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/asgtv.shtml) for All-Star Games going back to 1967. > > The home-field advantage rule started in 2003. Doesn’t look like it’s helped ratings at all, really. In fairness, ratings have held pretty steady since then, whereas they’d been in free fall beforehand. Staying the same is better than decline. That might not have anything to do with the home field advantage thing, tho. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/325 "2009-10-26T16:53:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In fairness, ratings have held pretty steady since then, whereas they’d been in free fall beforehand. Staying the same is better than decline. > > That might not have anything to do with the home field advantage thing, tho. Yep, both of those things are true. It could be that the change to the AS game has helped the ratings hold steady, or it could simply be that there are about 10 million households in America who will watch baseball no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/326 "2009-10-27T17:58:49Z")
The Phillies are going with Pedro in Game 2. Risky? Brilliant? I know he had that a good start against LA, but to me it seems liek they’d hope to get a good game out of him in Game 3, not Game 2. Are they less confident in Hamels? ---
**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 27, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/327 "2009-10-27T18:05:17Z")
I just want to see Rivera hit. Dare we hope for 2 RBIs in one year? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/328 "2009-10-27T18:47:23Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Are they less confident in Hamels? Hamels pitches better in Philadelphia, so they’re saving him for a home start. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/329 "2009-10-27T18:56:45Z")
Yeah, but I do think Manuel’s afraid of Hamels’ mindset in New York. Not just because of Hamels qua Hamels, but because I think Manuel knows that Hamels is probably going to give up a couple of longballs, and he wants that to happen here in Philly. The Phillies will probably hit just as well at Yankee Stadium, but the effect of a Jeter or an A-Rod homer in the early innings (which Hamels is very susceptible to; when he makes mistakes he makes them with the fastball or the changeup high in the zone) is a lot more dangerous in New York. Meanwhile, with Pedro, I think he’s just as likely or more likely to pitch well in a hostile environment than at home. It’s a tough call, but I think Manuel usually has a pretty good idea what he’s doing when he makes these decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/330 "2009-10-27T19:05:46Z")
I think it’s an experience thing. Pedro is not going to be fazed by either the moment (pitching in he WS) or by the hostile fans. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/331 "2009-10-27T21:40:37Z")
It seems unlikely that pitching in the World Series is going to unduly terrify Cole Hamels at this point. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/332 "2009-10-27T22:34:26Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > It seems unlikely that pitching in the World Series is going to unduly terrify Cole Hamels at this point. Yeah, it does seem a little strange to say that they’re bumping last year’s World Series MVP because he’s nervous about pitching in the World Series. However, he did pitch much better in Philadelphia. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/333 "2009-10-27T22:51:32Z")
I knew a guy who was a .220 lifetime hitter ,but a very solid glove. First play in the World Series he dropped a pop up. There is a lot of nerves in the big one. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/334 "2009-10-28T14:10:01Z")
A lot of debate going on right now between using Molina more over Posada. My hatred of all things Yankee over the years has blinded me to the fact that Posada is really really good (or, at least, was really really good during his career). What’s the peanut gallery think - [Posada for HOF](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/posadjo01.shtml)? That’s pretty fantastic plate discipline for a catcher. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/335 "2009-10-28T16:10:39Z")
I’m a die hard Yankee fan, and I think he falls short. Defensively, he’s never been great, and his offense, while very good, isn’t Piazza-esque enough to make up for the average D. Put him in the Hall of Very Good. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/336 "2009-10-28T18:25:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think it’s an experience thing. Pedro is not going to be fazed by either the moment (pitching in he WS) or by the hostile fans. And he’s heard the “Who’s your daddy?” chants there enough in his time that they won’t get to him. He showed already that he can still do it, if not for a full season anymore. Go Pedro. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/337 "2009-10-28T18:41:41Z")
Pedro is 6 - 2 lifetime in the postseason. But those 2 losses came from the Yankees, against 1 win. All of those games, however, were long enough ago as to not mean anything this year. It’s not the crowd he has to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/338 "2009-10-28T18:58:02Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > A lot of debate going on right now between using Molina more over Posada. My hatred of all things Yankee over the years has blinded me to the fact that Posada is really really good (or, at least, was really really good during his career). What’s the peanut gallery think - [Posada for HOF](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/posadjo01.shtml)? That’s pretty fantastic plate discipline for a catcher. He is very good and his number will almost surely be retired by the Yanks, but he is not really a Hall of Famer. His defense has always been a average and while his offense is near the best for catchers I don’t think it was quite enough to get in the way Piazza will. > [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I’m a die hard Yankee fan, and I think he falls short. Defensively, he’s never been great, and his offense, while very good, isn’t Piazza-esque enough to make up for the average D. Put him in the Hall of Very Good. Agreed. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And he’s heard the “Who’s your daddy?” chants there enough in his time that they won’t get to him. > > He showed already that he can still do it, if not for a full season anymore. Go Pedro. Disagree, he will probably not do well against the Yanks in the Bronx. The Yanks will be patient and get him out before the 6th is over. > [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Pedro is 6 - 2 lifetime in the postseason. But those 2 losses came from the Yankees, against 1 win. All of those games, however, were long enough ago as to not mean anything this year. It’s not the crowd he has to worry about. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/339 "2009-10-29T02:04:52Z")
This game really is the Yankees vs the Yankees. Both teams play in similar ways. Going to be a long hard fight. Or a lucky short one. From this game, though, looks like a long hard one. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/340 "2009-10-29T02:20:09Z")
Sabermetric freaks, there is one huge stat to remember. Pitching shuts down hitting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=18)