Anyone Watching the MLB Playoffs?

**LurchAddams** · 10-16-2022, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by leaningright

Since my Cards are out I’m rooting for the Astros and Phillies.

Astros have a really good shot. The betting houses are saying it's going to be the Astros v. Dodgers now.

**NiftyNiblick** · 10-16-2022, 08:04 AM

There's no need for MLB playoffs anymore.

When the National and American Leagues actually existed, which they haven't for more than two decades,
the World Series was a battle of champions.

Both teams had already won their respective league championships, until 1969 in the regular season with no playoffs, and the World Series was a step beyond.

That's no longer the case. The American and National Leagues were disbanded circa 2000,
and now both terms are just brand names of MLB, the one and only major baseball league.
The World Series, once very special, is now merely the final round of the MLB playoffs.

MLB teams play 162 regular season games.
What is the justification for playing 162 games only for the purpose of seeding a twelve-team post-season tournament?
After 162 games, we know who the best team is--the one with the best record!

Awarding the league championship not to the team that played the best all year but rather to a team that got hot after the season was already over makes no sense at all.

Professional sports in America today have gotten super tacky, and baseball in the Bud Selig-Rob Manfred era has trashed its dignity and tradition.
Every decision made where maximizing revenues is the preeminent factor is a decision made where the game itself IS NOT the preeminent factor.

I'm grateful that I got to watch REAL major league baseball in the 1950s and 1960s, because what they play now isn't it.

**LurchAddams** · 10-16-2022, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by NiftyNiblick

There's no need for MLB playoffs anymore.

When the National and American Leagues actually existed, which they haven't for more than two decades,
the World Series was a battle of champions.

Both teams had already won their respective league championships, until 1969 in the regular season with no playoffs, and the World Series was a step beyond.

That's no longer the case. The American and National Leagues were disbanded circa 2000,
and now both terms are just brand names of MLB, the one and only major baseball league.
The World Series, once very special, is now merely the final round of the MLB playoffs.

MLB teams play 162 regular season games.
What is the justification for playing 162 games only for the purpose of seeding a twelve-team post-season tournament?
After 162 games, we know who the best team is--the one with the best record!

Awarding the league championship not to the team that played the best all year but rather to a team that got hot after the season was already over makes no sense at all.

Professional sports in America today have gotten super tacky, and baseball in the Bud Selig-Rob Manfred era has trashed its dignity and tradition.
Every decision made where maximizing revenues is the preeminent factor is a decision made where the game itself IS NOT the preeminent factor.

I'm grateful that I got to watch REAL major league baseball in the 1950s and 1960s, because what they play now isn't it.

Anyway... great game between the M's and Astros yesterday, even though it was 0/0 until the 17th.. for a low-scoring game, it was pretty exciting.

People get out of pro sports what they want. Perhaps professional sports will get less racist and we'll see more black/Latino managers and coaches - minorities make up most of the player population, so it's pretty fucked the way they are right now, I agree.

Other than that, I have fun watching most sports.

**Althea** · 10-16-2022, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by LurchAddams

They've been around since, '77.. they're older than both my kids.

Infants compared to many other teams.

**LurchAddams** · 10-23-2022, 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by Althea

Infants compared to many other teams.

Hey, what's goin' on with your Yankees? Got shut out last night and have lost the last 2? They should have been nicer to my M's!

Good morning

**Althea** · 10-23-2022, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by LurchAddams

Hey, what's goin' on with your Yankees? Got shut out last night and have lost the last 2? They should have been nicer to my M's!

Good morning

Reminds me of the year they were up 3-0 against Boston, and melted down.

Same thing happened. They were all swinging for the fences instead of putting the ball in play.

It happens every fall. The ball doesn't carry as well in the cold weather. A lot of warning track outs for the Yanks.

Just put the damned ball in play. Pitching always dominates hitting in the post season for some reason.

Unless you are pitching to Reggie Jackson

**LurchAddams** · 10-24-2022, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Althea

Reminds me of the year they were up 3-0 against Boston, and melted down.

Same thing happened. They were all swinging for the fences instead of putting the ball in play.

It happens every fall. The ball doesn't carry as well in the cold weather. A lot of warning track outs for the Yanks.

Just put the damned ball in play. Pitching always dominates hitting in the post season for some reason.

Unless you are pitching to Reggie Jackson

Ohhhh.. Althea! I thought the Yanks were gonna hang on and win.. they pulled out ahead 3-0 in the third!

Don't feel bad. All the betting houses were saying the Astros were gonna take it. I thought it could have been a storybook ending though.. who was the last Yankee up? Aarron Judge! He could have been the hero!

**Althea** · 10-24-2022, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by LurchAddams

Ohhhh.. Althea! I thought the Yanks were gonna hang on and win.. they pulled out ahead 3-0 in the third!

Don't feel bad. All the betting houses were saying the Astros were gonna take it. I thought it could have been a storybook ending though.. who was the last Yankee up? Aarron Judge! He could have been the hero!

Houston has the best pitching staff in the bigs. Hard to beat that in post season. I didn't follow baseball during the year, but the Yanks' fielding throughout the post season looked like Little League.

Including the error that cost them the game last night.

**LurchAddams** · 10-24-2022, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Althea

Houston has the best pitching staff in the bigs. Hard to beat that in post season. I didn't follow baseball during the year, but the Yanks' fielding throughout the post season looked like Little League.

Including the error that cost them the game last night.

Oh, I don't watch regular season MLB either. It's more fun to watch paint dry. I only paid attention to the playoffs this year 'cause my Mariners were in it.

Pro Basketball either.. No Seattle team, why bother (right now I'm wearing a Spurs t-shirt, yes I'm a hypocrite

***leaningright*** · 10-28-2022, 05:58 PM

World Series night. My wife is complaining there’s no Joe Buck. I’m ok with Smoltz. Other than that … game on.

**Celticguy** · 10-28-2022, 07:11 PM

I understand Americans need to be pulling for Houston.

The two WS won by Philly were in a. The Great Depression and b. the Recession in 1980.

**LurchAddams** · 10-30-2022, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by Celticguy

I understand Americans need to be pulling for Houston.

The two WS won by Philly were in a. The Great Depression and b. the Recession in 1980.

[IMG]https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.OVKcfN3dCJaaeJnxhMXJ-AHaEK&pid=Api&P=0[/MG]

Anyway, the series is locked up at 1-1. Both games have been pretty good for baseball games. Next game, tomorrow night!