Now, granted it was the Rockies but watching the Dodgers these last four games, they seem to have reacted to losing Mookie in a way that bodes well for their playoff chances. They weren't likely to face much adversity this season but they have now. I dunno, maybe I'm reaching because I want to see this team win a chip but they've rebounded well from what had to be mentally a tough couple of loses.
While “they” like to say it incentivizes teams to compete because there are more playoff spots, it does the opposite. There’s a big advantage to the 2 seed instead of the 3 seed but that’s about it. The Mets aren’t going to sell the farm to try to wrap up 6th place.
Agree the current playoff system is an abomination. The NL is a sea of mediocrity. However, my enjoyment of baseball this year is greater than last year, as my Cardinals are now mediocre instead of terrible like last year. Still, not as joyful as when they are a 90+ win team. Not sure whether they’ll end up the season winning 85, losing 85, or falling in-between of both metrics. As long as we finish ahead of the Cubs, this season will be at least partially enjoyable. About the bigger picture, the number and severity of injuries does seem to be up this year across MLB, which is a downer.
*OK... we REALLY need to stop the "the Dodgers are going to get Willy Adames" thing. If you're the Brewers, who are literally only two games back of the Dodgers and have the third-best record in the National League, are you REALLY going to be sellers? I think that's just nuts, even if they're going to have trouble re-signing Adames (which I don't necessarily see any reason to believe. This is not just Molly; that narrative has existed since before the season started, but I think it's time we give it a rest. Not that I'm a disgruntled Brewers fan or anything...
*I appreciate the hilarity that the AL had a DH for 50 years to themselves, and pretty much the SECOND the NL gets one, a guy wins MVP from that spot. (Though I will say, the narrative that "no DH has been MVP has been pretty untrue for a while; Don Baylor played 65 games from that spot at won an MVP in 1979; and of course Shohei played 126 and 134 games at DH, respectively, in his two MVP seasons. Even with those caveats, it's still fun to think about.)
*On Royce Lewis: we went to Twins-Rockies last Monday (a 5-0 Twins win). My 8-year-old son was sad that he hadn't seen a home run. He said this to me as Royce Lewis was batting in the 8th. After the first pitch, I said to him, "Well you'd better watch, because this is the most likely player on the team to hit a home run." Two pitches later, out it flew. Lewis is FUN to watch!
thanks for the Mets/Grimace article. My daughter’s 12U softball team was called Grimace this past season— those memes would’ve been put to great use if they’d been out a couple months ago… so funny.
Now, granted it was the Rockies but watching the Dodgers these last four games, they seem to have reacted to losing Mookie in a way that bodes well for their playoff chances. They weren't likely to face much adversity this season but they have now. I dunno, maybe I'm reaching because I want to see this team win a chip but they've rebounded well from what had to be mentally a tough couple of loses.
I’m also glad that nobody was injured in that Yanks/O’s series. My heart sank when I saw Judge get hit with that ball. It sounded awful!
Yes the expanded playoffs are awful.
While “they” like to say it incentivizes teams to compete because there are more playoff spots, it does the opposite. There’s a big advantage to the 2 seed instead of the 3 seed but that’s about it. The Mets aren’t going to sell the farm to try to wrap up 6th place.
That Schildt / Manny toss was priceless. Thank goodness for lip readers.
Agree the current playoff system is an abomination. The NL is a sea of mediocrity. However, my enjoyment of baseball this year is greater than last year, as my Cardinals are now mediocre instead of terrible like last year. Still, not as joyful as when they are a 90+ win team. Not sure whether they’ll end up the season winning 85, losing 85, or falling in-between of both metrics. As long as we finish ahead of the Cubs, this season will be at least partially enjoyable. About the bigger picture, the number and severity of injuries does seem to be up this year across MLB, which is a downer.
somnambulant, eh? That's a perfectly cromulent word.
That Rickwood game was pretty good tho. Cool to see my man Masyn crushing. Even if he is gonna get lapped by Skenes in the ROY race.
Willie Mays greets Vin for Vin's last broadcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHZaus95_5w
*OK... we REALLY need to stop the "the Dodgers are going to get Willy Adames" thing. If you're the Brewers, who are literally only two games back of the Dodgers and have the third-best record in the National League, are you REALLY going to be sellers? I think that's just nuts, even if they're going to have trouble re-signing Adames (which I don't necessarily see any reason to believe. This is not just Molly; that narrative has existed since before the season started, but I think it's time we give it a rest. Not that I'm a disgruntled Brewers fan or anything...
*I appreciate the hilarity that the AL had a DH for 50 years to themselves, and pretty much the SECOND the NL gets one, a guy wins MVP from that spot. (Though I will say, the narrative that "no DH has been MVP has been pretty untrue for a while; Don Baylor played 65 games from that spot at won an MVP in 1979; and of course Shohei played 126 and 134 games at DH, respectively, in his two MVP seasons. Even with those caveats, it's still fun to think about.)
*On Royce Lewis: we went to Twins-Rockies last Monday (a 5-0 Twins win). My 8-year-old son was sad that he hadn't seen a home run. He said this to me as Royce Lewis was batting in the 8th. After the first pitch, I said to him, "Well you'd better watch, because this is the most likely player on the team to hit a home run." Two pitches later, out it flew. Lewis is FUN to watch!
thanks for the Mets/Grimace article. My daughter’s 12U softball team was called Grimace this past season— those memes would’ve been put to great use if they’d been out a couple months ago… so funny.