# MLB: The Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 30, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185 "2011-09-30T18:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 1, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/21 "2011-10-01T13:31:36Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The thing that was really wrong was starting the game at all, given the weather forecast. Didn’t Torre ever even hear of Doppler radar? That was a Selig-type decision, but I would’t expect it of Joe. > > And now the aces for each team are out of it for a few days, after being wasted last night, and damn near injured, too. What a farce. > > Did you mean that sarcastically? It’s not clear. If you didn’t, then hell yes, the team that scores more runs wins. Winning is what matters, _still_, unless something else has changed recently. It has _always_ been that simple. But opponents and ballparks affect the number of runs scored. It’s really \*not \*just that simple. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/22 "2011-10-01T15:05:19Z")
You and your opponent play the game in the same ballpark. Yes, it is that simple. If the quality of your opponent is lower than yours, then your chances of scoring more runs than they do, i.e. winning, is higher. That’s how winning is measured. Yes, it is that simple. What sort of game are you thinking of where winning isn’t necessarily matters, and isn’t necessarily defined by the score? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/23 "2011-10-01T15:44:49Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You and your opponent play the game in the same ballpark. Yes, it is that simple. The comparison was the number of runs scored over the entire regular season. The Tigers played half their games in Comerica Park, and only a few in the Yankees stadium. The Yankes played half their games in their stadium, and only a few in Comerica Park. It isn’t rocket science to know that that will make a difference in the number of runs over the coarse of the season. ---
**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 1, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/24 "2011-10-01T15:52:18Z")
I’ll just leave this here. [2011 Park Factors](http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor) ```auto RK PARK NAME RUNS HR H 2B 3B BB 1 Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Arlington, Texas) 1.409 1.500 1.134 1.188 2.333 1.030 2 Coors Field (Denver, Colorado) 1.347 1.354 1.182 1.237 1.140 1.024 3 Fenway Park (Boston, Massachusetts) 1.173 0.880 1.159 1.312 1.148 0.975 4 Rogers Centre (Toronto, Ontario) 1.152 1.186 1.121 1.331 1.680 0.994 5 Chase Field (Phoenix, Arizona) 1.146 1.095 1.060 1.151 1.379 0.927 6 Yankee Stadium (New York, NY) 1.131 1.267 1.036 0.989 0.839 1.025 7 Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas) 1.100 1.160 1.034 1.185 0.967 1.062 8 Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1.082 1.314 0.990 0.853 0.704 0.914 9 Comerica Park (Detroit, Michigan) 1.061 0.987 1.047 1.014 2.316 0.866 10 Miller Park (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 1.041 1.062 1.058 1.089 1.269 1.084 ``` ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/25 "2011-10-01T16:10:51Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > The comparison was the number of runs scored over the entire regular season. And yet the team that scores more runs than their opponents in the most games over the entire regular season is the one that finishes in first place. Amazing how simple that is, huh? Not that the regular season is all that important anyway, really - the season that _matters_ is the one played in October. The team that had the best regular season is therefore the one that goes into October best prepared to play the games that really count (i.e. to score more runs and allow fewer than their opponent, if that isn’t clear). That team isn’t necessarily the one that won the most games or scored the most runs or allowed the fewest in the six-month qualification round; it’s more typically the one that enters October with the most key players healthy and rested, and in the groove mentally as well as physically. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/26 "2011-10-01T16:23:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And yet the team that scores more runs than their opponents in the most games over the entire regular season is the one that finishes in first place. Amazing how simple that is, huh? Sure. Because the Tigers and Yankees played all their games in the same park, against all the same opponents, with the same rosters all year. Believe what you want, this is clearly pointless. ---
**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 1, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/27 "2011-10-01T17:45:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And yet the team that scores more runs than their opponents in the most games over the entire regular season is the one that finishes in first place. Amazing how simple that is, huh? It is NOT that simple. If you’re playing in a park that favor hitters, then you’re going to score more runs overall. The total number of runs scored over an entire season doesn’t mean that team’s hitters are better than another team’s. And if total runs really mattered, [Boston would be in the playoffs](http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/batting/seasontype/2). ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/28 "2011-10-01T18:22:09Z")
Do the Diamondbacks have a chance? I follow them mostly from afar but have gotten drawn in because they just seem to have “it” this season - but I have no idea about the Brewers. Kennedy was a surprise, Upton finally made it happen, led the MLB in comeback wins, etc… It seems like the DBacks are comparable on offense to Milwaukee based on the numbers, but I hear their pitching staff isn’t comparable to the Brewers’. Only one ESPN expert in eight is picking the DBacks to win the series. Does that sound right? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/29 "2011-10-01T19:13:47Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > It is NOT that simple. If you’re playing in a park that favor hitters, then you’re going to score more runs overall. The total number of runs scored over an entire season doesn’t mean that team’s hitters are better than another team’s. > > And if total runs really mattered, [Boston would be in the playoffs](http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/batting/seasontype/2). Total runs matters when evaluating a team’s **offense** , which is what started this ridiculous argument off. If you switch over to the pitching side of things, you’ll see that Boston allowed a lot more runs than a good team should. Where people are getting confused about the “oh, so now it’s simple, is it?” criticism of those that pay attention to stats is that everyone has always been trying to increase runs - it’s just that people have now switched the way in which they try and get them. Yes, parks make a difference. But unless it’s Coors Field, they don’t make **that** much difference. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/30 "2011-10-01T19:42:02Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Do the Diamondbacks have a chance? I follow them mostly from afar but have gotten drawn in because they just seem to have “it” this season - but I have no idea about the Brewers. Kennedy was a surprise, Upton finally made it happen, led the MLB in comeback wins, etc.. It seems like the DBacks are comparable on offense to Milwaukee based on the numbers, but I hear their pitching staff isn’t comparable to the Brewers’. Only one ESPN expert in eight is picking the DBacks to win the series. Does that sound right? On paper, the teams look pretty even. The Brewers’ best hitters are better than the Diamondbacks’ best, but the Backs have fewer holes in their lineup and actually scored a few more runs. Kennedy had the best year of any of the starters likely to pitch in the series; all the others are in the mid-3s in ERA (though Zach Greinke is probably better than his ERA number this year). So sure, they have a decent chance. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/31 "2011-10-01T20:32:22Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Total runs matters when evaluating a team’s **offense** , which is what started this ridiculous argument off. If you switch over to the pitching side of things, you’ll see that Boston allowed a lot more runs than a good team should. > > Where people are getting confused about the “oh, so now it’s simple, is it?” criticism of those that pay attention to stats is that everyone has always been trying to increase runs - it’s just that people have now switched the way in which they try and get them. > > Yes, parks make a difference. But unless it’s Coors Field, they don’t make **that** much difference. Pitching wins championships. Over a season a good offense will allow you to feast on bad teams or good pitchers having a bad day. Over 162 games it will help you get into the playoffs. But it won’t do shit for you against the really good pitchers in the playoffs. Pitching stifles hitting. that is why All Star games are not 20 to 18 affairs. All the best hitters in one spot, just terrifying the poor overmatched pitchers. But the hitters get shut down almost every year. [MLB All-Star Game History | Baseball Almanac](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgmenu.shtml) here are the scores. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/32 "2011-10-01T20:40:16Z")
It’s like there was a sale at the “Folk Baseball Wisdom” store. ---
**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 1, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/33 "2011-10-01T21:02:55Z")
It’s that time of year. Reminds me of my favorite baseball post of all-time: > [@MLB post season: 2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/340): > > Sabermetric freaks, there is one huge stat to remember. Pitching shuts down hitting. I sure hope it comes true this year, starting in about 5 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/34 "2011-10-01T23:29:23Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > This rule sucks. They played one whole fucking inning, and they’re going to “resume” it. > > Today’s inning shouldn’t count at all. Also, the Tigers had mostly right-handed batters to face Sabathia last night. Tonight they’ll face Freddy Garcia and the Tigers have to start out with the same lineup. Leyland’s the kind of manager to work this out somehow. Can MLB get rid of Bud Selig and his stupid new “rules”? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/35 "2011-10-02T01:20:10Z")
I’d like to see Brandon Inge do well just because I saw him in Toledo this year when he was playing with the Mud Hens. It can’t have been easy for a guy with his major league experience to get busted down to the minors for ineptitude, but dude was giving it 100%, and he launched a homer that damn near made it to Monroe Street. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/36 "2011-10-02T02:49:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d like to see Brandon Inge do well just because I saw him in Toledo this year when he was playing with the Mud Hens. It can’t have been easy for a guy with his major league experience to get busted down to the minors for ineptitude, but dude was giving it 100%, and he launched a homer that damn near made it to Monroe Street. He’s a huge fan favorite, but he’s also easily the most polarizing figure in Detroit sports. The Lions’ quarterback is good, and Jimmy Howard of the Red Wings would be next up, but it’s Brandon Inge, and it’s not even close. Until very recently, he was elite with his defense, and they could at least keep him in for that. They even traded away a good hitting, bad defensive prospect (so far) in Scott Sizemore to the A’s to keep Inge at third, before it became apparent that he needed some time away, hence his trip to Toledo. ---
**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 2, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/37 "2011-10-02T02:51:00Z")
> [@Corbomite](#): > > Also, the Tigers had mostly right-handed batters to face Sabathia last night. Tonight they’ll face Freddy Garcia and the Tigers have to start out with the same lineup. Leyland’s the kind of manager to work this out somehow. > > Can MLB get rid of Bud Selig and his stupid new “rules”? Wasn’t Garcia but the point is still quite valid. This rule sucks and makes no sense. It would make more sense to wash out any game that wasn’t 5 innings along and start over from the 1st inning with both teams able to set their lineupfor the new starting pitcher. Once the game is 5 innings old, sure go ahead and pick it up from there the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/38 "2011-10-02T03:18:32Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Pitching stifles hitting. that is why All Star games are not 20 to 18 affairs. All the best hitters in one spot, just terrifying the poor overmatched pitchers. But the hitters get shut down almost every year. > [MLB All-Star Game History | Baseball Almanac](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgmenu.shtml) here are the scores. What feeble leap of logic leads you to presume that putting the best hitters in a game against the best pitchers would do anything but result in a game with an average number of runs scored? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/39 "2011-10-02T03:34:00Z")
Not to mention that it’s a) an exhibition game b) pitchers rarely go longer than 3 innings c) an _exhibition_ game. ---
**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 2, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/40 "2011-10-02T03:34:13Z")
Well 27 hours after the first pitch, Yankees take game 1. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=3)