# 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:** 37
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/721 "2011-10-28T13:54:38Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > They have good pitching. that is why they won their division easily and almost went to the series. Preposterous! If they had good pitching they would have beat good hitting. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/722 "2011-10-28T14:06:13Z")
I didn’t know Josh Hamilton [is a religious nutter](http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/josh-hamilton-god-told-me-id-h.html) who thinks god tells him when he’s going to hit home runs? Now I have a reason to pull for the Cards. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/723 "2011-10-28T14:20:51Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I didn’t know Josh Hamilton [is a religious nutter](http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/josh-hamilton-god-told-me-id-h.html) who thinks god tells him when he’s going to hit home runs? > Now I have a reason to pull for the Cards. Hamilton has had some \*really \*hard times in his life, it’s easier for me to forgive his nutty religious beliefs when I know they are part of his recovery process. But, his life is still fairly extreme and weird. I have heard stories about how he still isn’t allowed to have access to his money because he can’t be trusted not to go blow it all on drugs even now. If belief helps keep him from destroying himself, more power to him. I have been pulling for the Cards just because I like an underdog, but now I am mostly hoping for extra innings. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/724 "2011-10-28T14:49:14Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I didn’t know Josh Hamilton [is a religious nutter](http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/josh-hamilton-god-told-me-id-h.html) who thinks god tells him when he’s going to hit home runs? > Now I have a reason to pull for the Cards. Hamilton has always been pretty open about his belief in God. Last year after the ALCS, when they gave him the MVP, his first words were about thanking “almighty God” and all that jazz. Hamilton is a pretty serious crackhead and gin monkey and has essentially no inherent impulse control. On an “addiction-prone” scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is something immune to the effect of drugs and booze and 10 is full-blown superaddict, Hamilton’s a 9, maybe a 9.5. Most people with Hamilton’s drug and booze problems are thrown away by society and end up in prison or dead. As it happens, Hamilton was lucky enough to have such a ridiculous amount of baseball talent that people were willing to keep reaching out to him and help him get past it. I don’t like the Jesus stuff either, but it’s hard to fault a man holding on to it when it’s the glue that keeps his life from falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/725 "2011-10-28T15:20:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And we’ll see you … tomorrow night! I realize Joe is Jack’s son and all, and he was just trying to pay tribute to Dad, but still - that’s Jack Buck’s iconic 1991 call. It felt a little cheap to me to have Joe copy it. I’m probably just an old grump who misses Jack Buck calling baseball games (and he was pretty great with Hank Stram with Monday Night Football on the radio, too). I also have to admit the shame of turning off the TV after Hamilton’s home run. Hooray for the Cards tying it in the ninth and all, but the way they have played the last two games and the rest of this one, I had little hope they’d be able to come back again. Plus I had to get up early! Damn it. Same type of thing happened to me in 1991, when I had to get to bed and missed Puckett’s home run in Game 6. I can only hope for a similar outcome for the home team this year! This is one big stat that struck me this morning. In the century-plus history of he World Series, in all those years and all those games, there were exactly two times when a team facing Series elimination on their last out tied the game with a hit. It had happened just twice since 1903. The Cardinals did it twice last night alone. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/726 "2011-10-28T15:33:26Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Preposterous! If they had good pitching they would have beat good hitting. The rain screwed it up too. Verlander, a pitcher, was taken out by rain. Pitching dominates hitting. however what team has 4 really good starters. So the pitching quality drops game after game . Last night game featured 5 errors and the inability to turn double plays. McCarver said during the game than errors will result in runs. You can not give a pro team 4 outs and stop them from scoring. ---
**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 28, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/727 "2011-10-28T15:35:20Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > You can not give a pro team 4 outs and stop them from scoring. You can if you have good pitching. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/728 "2011-10-28T15:38:14Z")
A few innings earlier, Buck & McCarver were discussing previous epic game 6’s, and mentioned the Jack Buck “see you tomorrow” call. So Joe Buck’s call felt to me like a “as we were saying…”, so it would’ve been odd for him not to refer back to it. In prior epic game 6’s: 1975, Cincinnati shrugged it off and won a great (but not epic) game 7. 1986, the Mets followed up the Buckner Game with a win in game 7. So history is no help in predicting what’ll happen tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/729 "2011-10-28T15:45:11Z")
The [win expectancy chart](http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/baseball/) says it all. I love baseball. ---
**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 28, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/730 "2011-10-28T15:48:58Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > So if the Cardinals win, he’ll snag $250,000. And if they lose? > > Hell, if it were my bet, I’d put $125,000 on the Rangers tonight. That way, you make a good chunk of change no matter who wins. I don’t think my heart could take an all-or-nothing game for that amount of $$, especially if it played out like last night. Actually, he’s already made a good chunk of change. The guy put $250 on the Cards to win the WS at 999-1, and $250 on them to win the NL pennant at 500-1. He’s already won $125,000. > [@gonzomax](#): > > Pitching dominates hitting. Except when it doesn’t. > [@gonzomax](#): > > however what team has 4 really good starters. So the pitching quality drops game after game . It’s called a “rotation” for a reason. By games 5 and 6, your best starters should be on the mound again. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/731 "2011-10-28T15:53:29Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, he’s already made a good chunk of change. > > The guy put $250 on the Cards to win the WS at 999-1, and $250 on them to win the NL pennant at 500-1. He’s already won $125,000. Nice! I did not know that. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/732 "2011-10-28T15:56:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > however what team has 4 really good starters. The Phillie’s ---
**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 28, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/733 "2011-10-28T16:06:04Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I didn’t know Josh Hamilton [is a religious nutter](http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/josh-hamilton-god-told-me-id-h.html) who thinks god tells him when he’s going to hit home runs? > Now I have a reason to pull for the Cards. I kinda liked [Hardball Talk’s take on it](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/28/god-told-josh-hamilton-he-was-going-to-hit-a-home-run/) (complete with awesomely appropriate graphic). (For the record, as a Christian, I’m totally agnostic on the subject of whether God would or did reveal something like that to someone like Hamilton, or even whether Hamilton himself thought so beforehand.) ---
**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 28, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/734 "2011-10-28T16:13:30Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I kinda liked [Hardball Talk’s take on it](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/28/god-told-josh-hamilton-he-was-going-to-hit-a-home-run/) (complete with awesomely appropriate graphic). I love this bit: > [@](#): > > Is God … a sabermetrician?! > > No, of course he isn’t. If He was, He would have said “Josh, you are going to get on base.” Or else He wouldn’t have cared about baseball at all, because I’m told statheads hate baseball and only love numbers, so never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/735 "2011-10-28T16:16:32Z")
Man, when I saw Freese drop that routine pop up, all I could shriek at the TV was “Use two fuckin’ hands!!!” Stupid, sloppy mistake that could have cost them the World Freaking Series. I hate that shit. But the kid sure made up for it later in the game with his two HUGE hits to save the game and win it. Entertaining game overall, with highs and lows on both sides. I doubt tonight’s game can live up to the excitement of last night’s, but hopefully one team doesn’t just roll over and die, which I fear might happen after as emotional a game as that. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/736 "2011-10-28T17:37:53Z")
I haven’t lived in St. Louis in 20 years, but I kinda wish I was there today. My brother’s birthday is today and I can’t imagine a better way for him to spend the day than watching the Cards in Game 7. I really was beginning to think that the Cardinals were actively trying to throw the game in the early going. They couldn’t hit the ball out of the infield, they couldn’t catch pop flies, they kept serving up nice, hittable pitches for the Rangers. My son said it was like watching his team of nine year olds, and he was about right. But that ending! So much adrenaline! And seriously, what is up with Holliday leaving with a bruised pinky - especially after Napoli rolled his ankle like that??? And with the Cardinals bench being seriously short on pinch hitters and outfielders? Kudos to Napoli for an excellent game, though. I can’t imagine catching or batting was easy after that sprain. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/737 "2011-10-28T17:50:01Z")
Unreal. I’ve actually been watching baseball for the first time in over two decades & enjoying the heck outta of it. Go Cards! Breaking: [**Listen to God as he speaks to Josh Hamilton**](http://newyork.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd0%2FdZ%2Fd3%2FdR%2FdQ%2FZ3RQ_3.MP3%3Fauthtok%3D5561600042896436914_4jE9gF6ucddGGX5CFXFeydZU&podcast_name=Josh+Hamilton+Talks+To+God+%26amp%3B+David+Freese+Needs+To+Live+A+Little&podcast_artist=Boomer+%26amp%3B+Carton&station_id=91&tag=&dcid=CBS.NY). ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/738 "2011-10-28T17:53:55Z")
There is a special kind of pain associated with a city never having won a World Series. I’m kind of rooting for the Rangers now, because I know how it feels. San Francisco was going on 45 years without a title when they lost game 6 in 2002, and they led that game 5-0 in the 7th. Dusty Baker had famously already given the game ball to the starter. Texas is going on 40 years now. And IF they end up losing game 7, game 6 will go down as the most painful loss in history. The lead was smaller, but they were twice one strike away from victory, and had an all-time great magical home run rendered meaningless. Having said that, I’m glad I’m not a fan of either team, because I am enjoying the heck out of this series no matter which way it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/739 "2011-10-28T18:27:59Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > I haven’t lived in St. Louis in 20 years, but I kinda wish I was there today. My brother’s birthday is today and I can’t imagine a better way for him to spend the day than watching the Cards in Game 7. I haven’t lived there for 25 years, and today is also my brother’s birthday. Weird. I like [this](http://www.ksdk.com/sports/pro_baseball/mlb/article/283223/188/Maryville-man-catches-David-Freeses-home-run-ball) story about the guy that caught Freese’s HR. He gave it back to Freese and was rewarded in kind. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/740 "2011-10-28T18:49:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Huyette jumped the fence, wrestled the ball then shoved it down his pants before anyone could notice. Augh. I hope he washed the ball before giving it back to Freese. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=38)