# The Major League Baseball Playoff and Predictions Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334 "2007-10-03T02:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/281 "2007-10-16T17:03:48Z")
Frank: > [@](#): > > The farther into October they get, the better the chances of the traditional fall blizzard hitting Denver. It came close Sunday night. If the Indians win the AL, that would be a nice bookend to their season, which began with a lot of snow. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/282 "2007-10-16T17:10:38Z")
Someone on here (maybe **zamboniracer**?) predicted the Rockies and Indians in a World Series game in Milwaukee. Would that be awesome or what? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/283 "2007-10-16T19:39:30Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] Itā€™s also impossible, in baseball, to consistently pit #1 pitcher against #1 pitcher, given that every team doesnā€™t have the same days off. It might work for the first couple weeks of the season, and again for the first couple weeks after the All-Star Game, but then different schedules start offsetting these things. [/QUOTE] I was thinking specifically of playoff matchups. I agree that that sort of planning would be impossible in the regular season. Earl Weaver used to do a little bit of it, back before 5-man rotations were the norm, by moving a spot starter in and out of the rotation, or skipping someoneā€™s turn on a rest day, to get pitching matchups he liked. But there wasnā€™t that much that even the Earl of Baltimore could do. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/284 "2007-10-16T19:46:32Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] We did that to win the nationals. I was a senior and only the 4th board, but I had the second highest rating. So at my suggestion, for the nationals, I moved up to 2 allowing the normal 2 & 3 boards to play weaker opponents. I managed to go .500 at 2. Our 1 board also went .500 and our 3 & 4 boards only lost one between them. We won the nationals. I am not sure this was unethical as by the only scale High School chess had, I was the #2 rating. It just did not match our regular season, but that also had 5 boards instead of 4. Our 5 was a strong Freshman and a very solid 5 that usually won. He was probably as good as I was and more dedicated to the game. Losing that advantage, we played within the rules to get a different advantage. As I held my own by going .500 and the 2 & 3 boards were also younger, I donā€™t think there was any reason to cry foul that we used some basic tactics to help us out. Jim [/QUOTE] Given that you had the second-best USCF rating, Iā€™d say you were as legit a #2 board as anyone on the team. And good on you guys for winning the nationals! ---
**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:** [October 16, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/285 "2007-10-16T19:52:49Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Given that you had the second-best USCF rating, Iā€™d say you were as legit a #2 board as anyone on the team. And good on you guys for winning the nationals! [/QUOTE] I use to joke it was their play and my idea that got us the Trophy. I never treated it as seriously as the other kids on the team. For me it was just a lot of fun and a yearly trip to Philly. (God that was a long time ago now.) Jim ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/286 "2007-10-16T20:06:41Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Someone on here (maybe **zamboniracer**?) predicted the Rockies and Indians in a World Series game in Milwaukee. Would that be awesome or what? šŸ˜ƒ [/QUOTE] That was me, and it would be awesome, but donā€™t count your chickens (and they wonā€™t count you.) A 2-1 series lead is great but the Red Sox arenā€™t dead yet. I heard John Kruk (who I usually like) say that the Red Sox have to pitch Beckett today because if they lose tonight the series is over and I couldnā€™t believe it. Wakefield is certainly capable of winning tonight. Go Tribe! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/287 "2007-10-17T04:14:41Z")
The kids are all right. Wakefield pitched better than his line. Boy was he unlucky. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/288 "2007-10-17T08:58:49Z")
Hooray Indians, again! Woot! Also, ESPN Radio was making it clear tonight why so many of us hate the Yankees. Thanks to King Ass Georgeā€™s pronouncement about Torreā€™s status should the Yankees lose in the Divisional Series, I got to listen to this all night at work, every 20 minutes: YANKEES ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS! TORRE! MATTINGLY! STEINBRENNER! Cleveland went out to a 3 games to 1 lead over Boston in the ALCS. YANKEES ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS! TORRE! MATTINGLY! STEINBRENNER! Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers ā€¦ YANKEES ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS! TORRE! MATTINGLY! STEINBRENNER! Colorado Rockies making their first trip to the World Series ā€¦ The radio host, whose name I donā€™t know, questioned the thought process behind the Yankees leaving Torre twisting in the wind like this. It should be obvious to a sports talk radio host. Steinbrenner et al are going to make an announcement the day before the World Series starts, thereby guaranteeing that, instead of talking about the Rockies and Indians or Red Sox, all the announcers are going to be talking about the Yankees. Sheesh. ---
**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 17, 2007, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/289 "2007-10-17T11:20:54Z")
Iā€™m fine with the Red Sox losing. Theyā€™re perilously close to Yankees-Lite. Consequently, Iā€™m also down with the Indians winning it all. Keep the title in the Central, donā€™t ya know? Colorado/Cleveland is going to be an interesting matchup. It still comes down to pitching, which Cleveland has. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/290 "2007-10-21T02:02:29Z")
Well, we can stick a fork in the Indians tonight. They must feel like a chicken that got caught in a tractorā€™s nuts. 10-1 and itā€™s still just the 3rd inning. Never go against Boston when elimination is on the line! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/291 "2007-10-21T03:07:46Z")
I hate pitchers who nibble. It drives me nuts. Carmona got those two outs in the 1st, was all set up to get out of the inning with no scoring against, if he came out aggressive and attacked Drew. Instead, he kept on nibbling, until he had to come in with a fat fastball. He pitched like a coward. Now Cleveland has squandered their advantage and set themselves up for the craps shoot of a game 7. Iā€™ve got a bad feeling about tomorrow night. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/292 "2007-10-21T03:10:59Z")
Yeah, the Indians might be cooked. Still, Iā€™m really proud of this team. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/293 "2007-10-21T03:11:21Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Well, we can stick a fork in the Indians tonight. They must feel like a chicken that got caught in a tractorā€™s nuts. 10-1 and itā€™s still just the 3rd inning. Never go against Boston when elimination is on the line! šŸ˜ƒ [/QUOTE] First inning, when JD Drew stepped up to bat, I smirked over at the Red Sox fan sitting at the barstool next to me and asked him ā€œEver seen a manager send in a pinch hitter in the first inning?ā€ I hate baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/294 "2007-10-21T03:29:56Z")
I, on the other hand, am having a very good night. šŸ™‚ ---
**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 21, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/295 "2007-10-21T05:24:41Z")
I really hope the Indians can win tomorrow night. Three years ago i was jumping out of my seat cheering when Boston overcame the Yankees, and again when they went on to win the World Series. I liked the team, and i felt some empathy with their long WS drought. But now i think i dislike the Red Sox as much as the Yankees. And my change in attitude has come about largely because of Red Sox fans. Over the past few years, it has seemed to me that many of them have the arrogance and cockiness that comes with being a successful, big-spending team, and manage to combine it with the whining and jealousy of a perennial loser. At least Yankee fans generally have the grace to admit that they have shitloads of money, and thatā€™s a large factor in their success. But some Boston fans still love to cry poor and blame the Yankees for trying to ā€œbuy a pennant,ā€ and thatā€™s pretty pathetic. Iā€™m sure theyā€™re probably a minority, but iā€™ve run into enough to notice a trend, and itā€™s very annoying. Go Indians. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/296 "2007-10-21T05:58:53Z")
sorry, but it is moot enjoy what ever happens, but these facts are clear: ā€¢ The Rockies led the league in hitting. ā€¢ They had the highest fielding percentage in the history of baseball. ā€¢ They led the league in ERA after the All-Star break. [sub]shamlessly stolen fron espn > **[Welcome to the 2023 World Series! Live updates, analysis as Rangers, D-backs...](https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3068839%5B%2Fsub%5D)** > > We have all the action covered as an improbable Fall Classic begins in Arlington. Go Rockies!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/297 "2007-10-21T09:32:10Z")
Damn Boston Yankee Sox ā€¦ ---
**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:** [October 22, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/298 "2007-10-22T02:11:52Z")
I would like to give a cautious, Go Indians, come on, you can do it. Francona is leaving Dice K in, please backfire. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/299 "2007-10-22T02:22:16Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] I would like to give a cautious, Go Indians, come on, you can do it. Francona is leaving Dice K in, please backfire. [/QUOTE] That was sort of a halfback fire. Why the hell canā€™t they ever make it easy? Just lose in five or blow 'em out in game seven. This shit is making me old. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334/300 "2007-10-22T03:07:48Z")
Damn Clevelandā€™s third base coach šŸ˜‰ and double-damn that gopher ball to Pedroia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-major-league-baseball-playoff-and-predictions-thread/421334.md?page=16)