# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/61 "2011-10-02T22:51:15Z")
Tigers silenced the hitting juggernaut they could not hope to keep up with. Shertzer who just doesn’t have enough playoff experience to match up, shut them down with 2 weak hits. Garcia just overpowered the Tigers weak hitters, like Cabrera. Home field advantage …gone. ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/62 "2011-10-02T23:25:30Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#): > > I wish they would get rid of that “strike zone”. Horribly inacurate. Seriously. For the first inning or two last night, I was just absent-mindedly watching it, and thinking “Man, the ump is really making some bad calls.” But then I started to watch the actual pitch and realized it was definitely not the ump that was off. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/63 "2011-10-02T23:34:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Seriously. For the first inning or two last night, I was just absent-mindedly watching it, and thinking “Man, the ump is really making some bad calls.” But then I started to watch the actual pitch and realized it was definitely not the ump that was off. Today was better. Yesterdays ump was way off. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/64 "2011-10-03T00:09:50Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#): > > I wish they would get rid of that “strike zone”. Horribly inaccurate. However inaccurate, I hate the ESPN one plastered right over home plate worse. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/65 "2011-10-03T01:26:38Z")
I can’t remember the last time I saw LaRussa visit the mound when he wasn’t carrying a hook. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/66 "2011-10-03T01:31:08Z")
Quick question about the on-deck circle that Avila slipped on in the ninth inning of the Detroit, New York game: are those always a hard surface, or did they make them more “fancy” for the play-offs? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/67 "2011-10-03T01:44:30Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Quick question about the on-deck circle that Avila slipped on in the ninth inning of the Detroit, New York game: are those always a hard surface, or did they make them more “fancy” for the play-offs? I don’t know if that’s standard in New York, but generally the on-deck circle is just plain grass or dirt. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/68 "2011-10-03T04:04:58Z")
What a comeback for the Cards and their oft-criticized bullpen. Carpenter was awful on short rest, hopefully he’ll be ok for Game 5 if they need one. But the Redbirds have the series tied and head to St. Louis to play two starting Tuesday. ---
**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 3, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/69 "2011-10-03T12:07:19Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > What a comeback for the Cards and their oft-criticized bullpen. Carpenter was awful on short rest, hopefully he’ll be ok for Game 5 if they need one. But the Redbirds have the series tied and head to St. Louis to play two starting Tuesday. Heh. The [article at Hardball Talk](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/03/tony-la-russa-and-the-cards-bullpen-shine-as-st-louis-beats-philly-5-4/) called it “maybe the most Tony La Russa game ever.” If the StL bullpen is “oft-criticized,” it’s underrated, although it did have serious, serious issues earlier in the season. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/70 "2011-10-03T14:54:46Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Less than average in the majority of cases. Way under. Not that I expect you to admit it or even acknowledge my post, but you are wrong. The average number of runs per game per team for the regular season generally varies between 4 and 5 (so you’d expect the average number of total runs per game to be between 9 and 10). Cumulative average number of runs per game, last 10 years: **9.2** Average number of runs per game, last 10 All-Star Games: **9.0** So yes, the average number of runs per game in All-Star games IS technically less than average… by two tenths of a run. Total, for both teams combined. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/71 "2011-10-03T17:41:04Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Today was better. Yesterdays ump was way off. That was the worst umpiring behind the plate I’ve seen in a long time. Scherzer would have given up 8 walks by the fifth inning without that gigantic strike zone. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/72 "2011-10-04T02:51:05Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > That was the worst umpiring behind the plate I’ve seen in a long time. Scherzer would have given up 8 walks by the fifth inning without that gigantic strike zone. Did the Yankees have the same ump? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/73 "2011-10-04T02:53:02Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Not that I expect you to admit it or even acknowledge my post, but you are wrong. > > The average number of runs per game per team for the regular season generally varies between 4 and 5 (so you’d expect the average number of total runs per game to be between 9 and 10). > > Cumulative average number of runs per game, last 10 years: **9.2** > Average number of runs per game, last 10 All-Star Games: **9.0** > > So yes, the average number of runs per game in All-Star games IS technically less than average… by two tenths of a run. Total, for both teams combined. Last 6 All Star Games, after Steroids were gone, 1-5 1-3 4-3 4-3 5-4 3-2 Not exactly slug fests. Average of 6 a game ---
**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 4, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/74 "2011-10-04T03:27:05Z")
Verlander’s throwing 100+ in the 8th inning. It’s amazing the Yankees are in this game. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/75 "2011-10-04T03:53:18Z")
And Papa Grande continues his unbroken streak… of turning every appearance into heart attack time. But once again he pulls it off somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/76 "2011-10-04T03:53:52Z")
That Jeter guy sure isn’t clutch. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/77 "2011-10-04T04:01:05Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Verlander’s throwing 100+ in the 8th inning. It’s amazing the Yankees are in this game. But the Yankees are the greatest team in baseball. A team with a huge hitting advantage over the Tigers and even better pitching. Even their closer is better and Valverde has not blown a safe all year. So how good must theirs be. ---
**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 4, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/78 "2011-10-04T04:06:03Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Verlander’s throwing 100+ in the 8th inning. It’s amazing the Yankees are in this game. This is what he does. His no-no? He was throwing triple digits into the last at-bat. Valverde gives me the bubbles, but I should know better. 50-50 in 2011. Amazing. All he needs is a save situation and he is absolutely remarkable. Non-saves, not so much. The plate ump was really stinking it up with his calls tonight. Especially with the second-to-last pitch Valverde threw to Jeter. Perfect pitch…called a ball? Open your eyes, dufus. I’m liking Detroit’s chances to finish this tomorrow. The only thing sweeter than seeing the Tigers move on is seeing the Yankees sent home for the winter. ---
**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 4, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/79 "2011-10-04T04:25:51Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > This is what he does. His no-no? He was throwing triple digits into the last at-bat. > Valverde gives me the bubbles, but I should know better. 50-50 in 2011. Amazing. All he needs is a save situation and he is absolutely remarkable. Non-saves, not so much. > > The plate ump was really stinking it up with his calls tonight. Especially with the second-to-last pitch Valverde threw to Jeter. Perfect pitch…called a ball? Open your eyes, dufus. > > I’m liking Detroit’s chances to finish this tomorrow. The only thing sweeter than seeing the Tigers move on is seeing the Yankees sent home for the winter. I couldn’t agree any more with the last sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/80 "2011-10-04T04:37:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > But the Yankees are the greatest team in baseball. A team with a huge hitting advantage over the Tigers and even better pitching. Even their closer is better and Valverde has not blown a safe all year. So how good must theirs be. Theirs is merely the greatest closer of all time. And your right, the Yankees do have a huge hitting advantage, which is how they were able to score 4 runs off of the best pitcher in baseball with his A-game, the same number of runs the Tigers were only able to score off of a clearly struggling CC. I’m glad to see you’ve recognized the flaws in your logic and have finally realized the team with the best pitching staff (the Yankees) aren’t necessarily shoe ins to win a post season series, what with the game being as stochastic as it is. What? You were being facetious? Oh, I’m sorry. Your sarcasm had the unintended consequence of making it appear you had made a cogent and logical argument about baseball. I should have known better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=5)