# MLB: September/October Regular Season 2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 1, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738 "2022-09-01T16:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/241 "2022-09-22T16:27:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s funny this should come up because I was thinking the other day of how the Baltimore Orioles of that time were one of the best teams no one thinks of, but they were crazy unlucky. Great point – I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about Mark Belanger (that era’s epitome of the “great glove/no bat” infielder), and those O’s teams. The AL East was just loaded in those years – it was the Bronx Zoo Yankees, and strong Red Sox teams, and then the Harvey’s Wallbangers Brewers, all up against those Baltimore teams. That final game of the '82 season, the Orioles were hosting the Brewers; I remember listening to that game on a portable radio, with a couple of friends, while we were out at a football field, playing around. We were all so excited that the Brewers won that game, and the division. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/242 "2022-09-22T16:36:29Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Great point – I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about Mark Belanger (that era’s epitome of the “great glove/no bat” infielder) .228 career batting average. He’d fit right in these days. He as a seriously good fielder. That was my team growing up in Maryland. Spoiled by great players (4 20 game winners on one team!) I had no idea he died so young. (54). ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/243 "2022-09-22T18:17:15Z")
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to see that there are only 7 batters in the AL hitting over .300 right now. Particularly when there are only 4 batters over .300 in the NL. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/244 "2022-09-22T18:20:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The 1981 season saw the NL send four teams to the postseason, and none of them were the two best teams in the league. The Royals that year became the first team to ever make the playoffs with a losing record, but Baltimore, the league’s third best team, did not. It was screwed up. The Dodgers won the 1981 series and the 2020 series which were (the only?) two weird format years. I went to Game 4 in 1981. I clearly remember Reggie Jackson’s error. ---
**Author:** ![ThatCanadianGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ThatCanadianGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatCanadianGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/245 "2022-09-22T18:34:52Z")
Try being an Expos fan. At least the Orioles won divisions and even went to the World Series twice and winning one. From 1979 to 1994, the Expos had the second best record in the majors during that period next to the Yankees: 1979, finished 2 games back of Pirates family, played ridiculous amount of doubleheaders in September 1980, finished one game back of Phillies (blame Dick Williams). 1981, finished first in second half, half game ahead of Cardinals. Only time they made playoffs. 1984 18 games back of Cubs, 78 wins. 1986, 29.5 back of Mets, still 78 wins. 1987, third place, 91 wins but 4 games back of Cardinals 1991, their worst year in this period, just third year below .500 with 71 wins, 26.5 out 1992, second place but 9 games out 1993, just 3 games out and of course, 1994, best record in majors when the strike wipes out the season Not many teams can say they had this much success, 12 of 15 years above .500, one of best record as I said, 6 of those within 5 games of or leading the division and yet have virtually nothing to show for it. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/246 "2022-09-22T18:58:32Z")
> [@ThatCanadianGuy](#): > > From 1979 to 1994, the Expos had the second best record in the majors This is a mind-boggling statistic. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/247 "2022-09-23T04:22:39Z")
Thank God for modern-day playoff expansion. Hell, the Expos/Nationals franchise benefited from that in 2019-- the year the Nats won the World Series, they were a Wild Card team. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/248 "2022-09-23T04:50:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > .228 career batting average. He’d fit right in these days. He as a seriously good fielder. That was my team growing up in Maryland. Spoiled by great players (4 20 game winners on one team!) I had no idea he died so young. (54). Belanger was an AWESOME fielder. Earl Weaver’s teams put a lot of emphasis on defense, and Belanger was by far the best they had. If you look at the Orioles’ defensive efficiency rate, it was the best in the AL every year or close to it. Their defense made their pitching look better than it actually was. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/249 "2022-09-23T04:58:12Z")
> [@ThatCanadianGuy](#): > > Try being an Expos fan. You didn’t even do 1982. The 1982 Expos went 86-76 and I honestly do not understand how they didn’t go 110-52. The talent on that team was eye-popping: Gary Carter, a Hall of Famer, had an MVP-level season. He may actually have been the best player in the league. Andre Dawson, a Hall of Famer, hot ,301 with 23 homers and scored 107 runs. Tim Raines, a Hall of Famer, was the best leadoff hitter in the league. Al Oliver won the batting title AND the RBI title. Tim Wallach hit 28 home runs. The #1 starter, Steve Rogers, was the best starter in the league. The closer, Jeff Reardon, had his best season. Worse seasons have won Cy Young awards. The #2-#4 starters were Bill Gullickson, Scott Sanderson, and Charlie Lea, all having good years. Most World Series champs don’t have that level of frontline talent. I do not grasp how the Expos pissed that season away. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/250 "2022-09-23T04:59:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If you look at the Orioles’ defensive efficiency rate, it was the best in the AL every year or close to it. Their defense made their pitching look better than it actually was. Definitely. Looking at, say, their 1975 team (which finished at 90-70), three-quarters of their infield (Belanger, 3B Brooks Robinson, and 2B Bobby Grich) won Gold Gloves that year, as did CF Paul Blair. Pitcher Jim Palmer didn’t win a Gold Glove that year, but he did win it the following four seasons. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/251 "2022-09-23T23:27:55Z")
I’m watching Yankees vs. Redsox on Apple TV, the announcer are better than early in the year but are still terrible. I won’t blame them for talking about Judge 33% of the time. But they could’ve dialed it down. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/252 "2022-09-23T23:47:52Z")
I think they managed to make the game free for anyone without an Apple TV+ subscription in case anyone wanted to tune in. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/253 "2022-09-23T23:50:40Z")
Yes, though you do need a sign in, it can be a free one. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/254 "2022-09-24T00:00:18Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think they managed to make the game free for anyone without an Apple TV+ subscription in case anyone wanted to tune in. Apple TV+ games have been free all year. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2022, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/255 "2022-09-24T01:24:49Z")
Have they? I thought you had to be a subscriber. Huh - that’s great. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/256 "2022-09-24T03:02:18Z")
Home Run Pujols! ---
**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:** [September 24, 2022, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/257 "2022-09-24T03:33:01Z")
#699 and #700. Or so I hear. I’d be watching if the game were on regular TV and not Apple TV+. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/258 "2022-09-24T21:02:31Z")
The White Sox have announced that manager Tony La Russa won’t be returning to manage the team this season, on the advice of his doctors. Personally, I suspect that the Sox have reached an agreement with La Russa to let him leave the team gracefully after this season, and not just because of his health. > **[La Russa will not return to White Sox this season](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34656852/tony-la-russa-not-return-manager-chicago-white-sox-season-team-says)** > > Tony La Russa will not return to the Chicago White Sox this season, the team announced on Saturday, after his doctors advised the veteran manager to continue resting after undergoing surgery to repair a pacemaker. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/259 "2022-09-24T21:13:48Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Personally, I suspect that the Sox have reached an agreement with La Russa to let him leave the team gracefully after this season, and not just because of his health. My thoughts exactly, let him save face for a long career by stepping away for health. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738/260 "2022-09-25T17:16:20Z")
Don Mattingly announced today that he won’t be returning as manager of the Marlins in 2023. He’s served as their manager for seven seasons, but has only had one winning season in that span (and that was in COVID-shortened 2020). > **[Mattingly won't return as Marlins manager for '23](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34662813/reports-don-mattingly-back-miami-marlins-manager-next-season)** > > Don Mattingly will not be back as Marlins manager next season. Mattingly is completing his seventh season, and his contract is set to expire at the end of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-october-regular-season-2022/970738.md?page=14)