# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/121 "2011-10-05T11:37:22Z")
I almost said something about how I wouldn’t feel comfortable last night unless the Yankees scored 11 runs, so… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/122 "2011-10-05T19:20:08Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > If you did understand, you wouldn’t say things like, well, just about anything you’ve said in this thread. I guess you are unable to understand. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/123 "2011-10-05T21:18:53Z")
[MODERATING] This thread is about the Major League Baseball playoffs, not who does or doesn’t understand something. Stop the personal attacks and get back on topic. The next hijack along these lines, I’ll close this thread and issue a warning. RickJay Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/124 "2011-10-06T00:52:00Z")
Good win by the Cards. That was a _great_ play by Pujols to come off the bag and catch Utley trying to stretch a groundout from first to third. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/125 "2011-10-06T00:57:01Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Good win by the Cards. > > That was a _great_ play by Pujols to come off the bag and catch Utley trying to stretch a groundout from first to third. Making the first out at third. Ouuuuch. What’s with the squirrels? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/126 "2011-10-06T01:02:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What’s with the squirrels? You got me. They’re maniacs this time of year here, running all over the roads. That style of straight across run is rare, normally they bob and weave and fake you out and then run right under your tire anyway. At least it didn’t jump up into the pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/127 "2011-10-06T01:04:29Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > That was a _great_ play by Pujols to come off the bag and catch Utley trying to stretch a groundout from first to third. Because it’s not enough that he’s one of the all-time great hitters. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/128 "2011-10-06T01:21:14Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You got me. They’re maniacs this time of year here, running all over the roads. That style of straight across run is rare, normally they bob and weave and fake you out and then run right under your tire anyway. > > At least it didn’t jump up into the pitch. The especially odd thing is that Busch Stadium is downtown. The nearest trees are on the grounds of the Arch. The squirrels have to get across the four lanes of Memorial Drive, the depressed lanes of Interstate 70, then down and over another block (or cut through the parking garage) and across another major street before they can even get into the stadium. ---
**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 6, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/129 "2011-10-06T02:00:17Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You got me. They’re maniacs this time of year here, running all over the roads. That style of straight across run is rare, normally they bob and weave and fake you out and then run right under your tire anyway. > > At least it didn’t jump up into the pitch. I love how Oswalt tried to milk it with the umpire. He went up and started complaining to Hernandez, as if the squirrel had somehow put him off his pitch. He was facing away from the squirrel, and the pitch was well on its way to the plate by the time the squirrel made it into his line of sight. It had no effect whatsoever on the game. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/130 "2011-10-06T13:17:07Z")
The squirrel could have come over from Keiner Plaza or any number of small parks not that far from the stadium. As for the game - Oswalt wasn’t very sharp and Jackson recovered very nicely from a shaky start. Big game from Freese - the lower half of the order is really carrying the Cardinals in this series. Nice to see Holliday back in the lineup - it just feels a lot more substantial with him in there. As expected, this Phillies team is entirely capable of being shut down on Offense. Since game one they have scored 4, 3, and 3 runs. On the other hand, there’s a very good chance that 3 runs will be more than enough on Friday. Carp v. Halladay should be a lot of fun. TLR has done a very nice job of neutralizing Howard in the late innings - the lefties have really given him fits. That contract is going to start looking really, really bad in the not-too-distant future. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/131 "2011-10-06T13:22:30Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > That was a _great_ play by Pujols to come off the bag and catch Utley trying to stretch a groundout from first to third. It really was phenomenal all around. Utley is a great base-runner and saw an opportunity. I have to think against most other first basemen he makes it and everyone is talking about his baseball IQ. Thing is, it’s exactly the type of baserunning play that Pujols makes all the time, and it was obvious he was expecting it. Watching two players at the heights of the game is a wonderful thing. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/132 "2011-10-06T14:32:05Z")
How do the division series playoffs work? I thought they were a best of 5 series. SI is listing the following for Tigers Yankees. > [@](#): > > ``` > Game 1: Yankees 9, Tigers 3 | Tigers vs. Yankees - Game 1 - Video Icon Recap > Game 2: Tigers 5, Yankees 3 | Tigers vs. Yankees - Game 2 - Video Icon Recap > Game 3: Tigers 5, Yankees 4 | Tigers vs. Yankees - Game 3 - Video Icon Recap > Game 4: Yankees 10, Tigers 1 | Recap > Game 5: At DET, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8:37 PM ET > Game 6: At NYY, Thursday, Oct. 6, 8:07 PM ET > > ``` Why is there a sixth game here. Is it just SI making a mistake? The other two series that are tied 2-2 do not have a sixth game listed. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/133 "2011-10-06T14:34:23Z")
Whatever that is, it’s a mistake. Oct 4 has already happened, and it held Game 4. Game 5 is tonight. ---
**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 6, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/134 "2011-10-06T14:41:44Z")
Baseball and the televising networks must be loving the Divisional Series. We’re getting 19 out of a possible 20 games. No sweeps, and three of the four series are going to the fifth game. ---
**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 6, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/135 "2011-10-06T16:03:53Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > It really was phenomenal all around. Utley is a great base-runner and saw an opportunity. I have to think against most other first basemen he makes it and everyone is talking about his baseball IQ. Thing is, it’s exactly the type of baserunning play that Pujols makes all the time, and it was obvious he was expecting it. > > Watching two players at the heights of the game is a wonderful thing. Watching the video, I think what I’m seeing on Utley’s face is a look of disbelief followed by an “okay, ya got me” grin. ---
**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 6, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/136 "2011-10-06T16:46:13Z")
I scored tix to the Yankee game tonight. Woo hoo! First trip to the new stadium AND a Game 5! ---
**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 6, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/137 "2011-10-06T16:51:48Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I scored tix to the Yankee game tonight. Woo hoo! First trip to the new stadium AND a Game 5! Well you’ve still got one kidney, right? ---
**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 6, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/138 "2011-10-06T21:22:54Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I scored tix to the Yankee game tonight. Woo hoo! First trip to the new stadium AND a Game 5! I hope that you have a great time, and leave the game disappointed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/139 "2011-10-06T23:11:44Z")
Sorry for the hijack… Today the White Sox announced Robin Ventura as their new manager. The same Robin Ventura that was “noogied” by Nolan Ryan. Ventura has zero managerial experience. In other news, Kenny Williams is an idiot. /hijack ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185/140 "2011-10-06T23:19:30Z")
That’s a curious choice. Still, you never know. I’m not all that convinced experience is always a good thing when it comes to managing. Maybe Ventura has some good ideas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-the-playoffs/598185.md?page=8)