2022 Baseball Season: Still Pandemic Season Probably

[dr. b 458]

I dunno, I'm getting a bit skeptical of Cleveland now. They're certainly winning a lot of games here in September, but the AL Central is such a weak division. They've been playing some pretty bad teams (in and outside the division) this month. They might not fair as well when they start playing good teams in the postseason.

 

The Jays won last night, Vladdy walked it off in the 10th. And Judge didn't homer. Yay!

[dr. b 458]

Maybe Seattle actually is collapsing..?  You can't lose to the Rangers right now. Lucky for them, Baltimore also lost last night. The other AL Central teams are most liklely a non-factor now, so I think it's only Baltimore that have a chance of catching Seattle if they blow it.

[Eizan 121]

Mariners clinched!

 

Now it's just figuring out who will play who. Although the Mariners, Blue Jays and Rays all haven't played that great down the stretch. 

 

NL still has a lot of things to sort out, Braves and Mets are tied for the East right now and the other 2 Wild Card Spots are up for grab (How are the Giants still alive?) 

 

[dr. b 458]

Pretty much a perfect weekend for the Jays with a sweep of Boston. I think all they need is one more win, or an M's loss, to clinch home field advantage in the WC Series. 

 

The Red Sox got absolutely destroyed by their AL East rivals this summer. The just barely had a winning record vs. Baltimore (10-9) but it wasn't even close for Boston in the season series vs. Toronto, Tampa, and NYY. You should look up their season splits. It's pretty hilarious. 

[Eizan 121]

It's looking like it will be Seattle heading to Toronto to face the Blue Jays. 

 

I'm guessing the Mariners will start Castillo for Game 1.

[dr. b 458]

There's still a chance it's Tampa coming to Toronto, but, yeah, I think Seattle is more likely. Either way, bring it on! The Jays are playing really well right now.

 

If it's Seattle coming, then I would bet that the first game pitching match up is Manoah vs. Castillo. I expect Toronto to throw Gausman out for Game #2, but he did leave his start early this week due to a cut on his finger. If the Jays win Game #1 then they might take a chance on Stripling for Game #2, as he's pitched so well this summer too. If they can sweep the M's in two games then that buys a bit more time for Gausman's finger to recover. His middle finger is key to throwing his splitter, so if a cut or blister is bothering him then he might not be as effective as usual.

 

I'm thinking about trying to score a ticket for Friday or Saturday... not sure I can afford it though, even way up in the nosebleeds.

[Eizan 121]

Well it's no doubt Seattle now, so uhh yeah nice meeting you in the Playoffs. 

 

Although if I'm going to be honest I think the Astros are the best team going into the playoffs with Atlanta being 2nd best. Repeat World Series? 

[dr. b 458]

Bring it on, Seattle!

Game times:

• Friday 4:07 PM Eastern
• Saturday 4:07 Eastern
• Sunday 2:07 Eastern if needed

 

I'm cutting loose from work early on Friday  

[dr. b 458]

uuuuuuggggghhh this fucking Blue Jays team  I don't think there's going to be a Game #3 on Sunday...

[dr. b 458]

Fuck me I hate baseball   

[Eizan 121]

I went to bed thinking there was going to be a game 3. Although I wish the Mariners were going to go play the Yankees instead of the Astros. 

[Eizan 121]

That's great the Mariners actually got to Verlander, but blew the game. 

[dr. b 458]

I don't know this team very well, the bullpen and names of guys further down the depth chart, but I really didn't like what they did in the 9th last night. Sewald was awful in the game against Toronto on Saturday. I would have put anybody else out there instead of him. Then they brought in Ray, who is prone to allowing homeruns, with two runners on. And he's a starter that hasn't appeared out of the 'pen in a pretty long time. If it had worked then I suppose Servais would have looked like a genius, but to me that was a recipe for disaster.

 

I'm still cheering for Seattle, but, I won't lie -- it felt pretty damn satisfying seeing Alvarez hit that bomb  But, uh... go M's!

[Eizan 121]

I expect Seattle to be swept today. 

 

Anyways, NLCS could be Phillies vs Padres? 

[dr. b 458]

I think the M's still have some fight left in them, but it's probably better to expect the worst  

 

I am hoping that Atlanta comes back to knock out the Phillies. Something about the Phils, I just don't find them to be a very likeable team.

 

I am all aboard the Guardians and Padres bandwagons if they can do away with the Yanks and Dodgers.

[Eizan 121]

Technically Seattle played 4 games...

 

I think the Astro's will win it all, but I'd like to see the Padres win.

[dr. b 458]

I am all aboard the Dads' bandwagon!

 

It's a bummer about Seattle, but even though they got swept, that was not an easy series for Houston. The M's put up a good fight.

[Eizan 121]

Looking like its going to be a Houston and Philadelphia World Series. 

 

That doesn't seem like a WS you'd like. 

[dr. b 458]

Not really! I might have to cheer for the Astros... Ick.

[Eizan 121]

No-hitter in the world series. Javier shut down the Yankees and the Phillies this postseason. 

[dr. b 458]

Yeah, Javier's starts have been stellar in the ALCS and WS!

 

I think McCullers Jr. must have been tipping his pitches in the previous game. So many homeruns.

 

I've been pleasantly surprised by this World Series. I hope it goes the full seven games. I'm really enjoying it.

[dr. b 458]

Well, that's that. Baseball is over for another long winter  

 

I was happy to see the 'Stros win it in the end. They're clearly the better, more complete team. You never know what can happen in a best-of-7 series, and it is also fun to see the underdog upset the favourite, but something feels right to me about the "better team" winning. It was an entertaining World Series and the Phils gave them a run for their money! But if the Phils want to be legit contenders next year then they need to tighten up their defense somehow. They're pretty bad on that side of the ball. Winning games with a high-powered offense gets you through the regular season well enough, but in the postseason when you're playing all the top teams, the margin for error becomes so thin. Need to play good defense.

 

The biggest eye-opener for me from watching the ALCS and WS is that Jeremy Pena is one incredible player. He looks like a vet the way he carries himself on the field. Aside from the fact that he obviously looks young, you could never tell he's a rookie. What a talented a poised player.

[Eizan 121]

Rangers throwing more money at Free Agency. Signed DeGrom. 

 

They better hope he can stay healthy. 

[dr. b 458]

Yeah that's nuts. They won't be able to build a complete team through free agency though, no matter how much they spend. Player development has to go hand-in-hand with the FA signings. 

 

The M's traded for Kolten Wong.

 

Apparently the Phils are going hard after Trea Turner.

[Eizan 121]

Well, Correa going to the Mets instead of Giants now? Wonder how the Mets will choke it away next year. 

 

Wait, will the Mets have a bigger payroll than the Yankees now? 

 

 

[dr. b 458]

Check this out:

 

 

That is just nuts. This offseason has been crazy. And this latest situation with Correa is wild. 

[Eizan 121]

Correa back to the Twins now...I don't know if he stays healthy for a full season. 

[dr. b 458]

This whole Correa saga has been quite unbelievable! I hope he stays on the field and plays well in Minnesota. I'd like to see the Twins return to relevance again. They had a nice stretch of competitiveness in the 2000's. Those were some solid teams. But mostly losing seasons since 2010. Correa ought to be the best player on their team if he stays healthy. Buxton is also a player with lots of potential, and I think he's been a bit more consistent the last couple years. They have some other perfectly decent position players too. Seems like they can't develop pitching though, at least not in recent years.