The MLB postseason has arrived: down with the Yankees
October 1, 2019 2:28 PM Subscribe
October Baseball is here for 10 lucky teams. The wildcard games start tonight, 10/1 at 5:08 pm pacific time between the Milwaukee Brewers at the Washington Nationals, followed by tomorrow's game between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Oakland Athletics.
With the reigning champs, the Boston Red Sox, missing the playoffs, there are rumors that they'll be selling off parts to get under the luxury tax.
The Cleveland team is also on the outside looking in, generally agreed upon to have sold at the deadline thinking the division was well in hand (and thinking to save a few bucks).
The Dodgers and the Astros are the two juggernauts in NL and AL respectively, each with over 24% chance of winning the whole thing.
This is a record year for wins, with four 100 win teams (Astros, Yankees, Twins, Dodgers), and four 100 loss clubs (Tigers, Royals, Orioles, Marlins).
Can one of the wild card teams play spoiler against the Dodgers or Astros in the division series? Will the Dodgers go three consecutive appearances in the World Series in a row? (The last time that happened was the Oakland A's in 88-90 and before that the Yankees in 76-78). Will the A's overcome their inability to win playoff series in the past two decades? Can the Brewers surprise everyone and make a deep run?
With the reigning champs, the Boston Red Sox, missing the playoffs, there are rumors that they'll be selling off parts to get under the luxury tax.
The Cleveland team is also on the outside looking in, generally agreed upon to have sold at the deadline thinking the division was well in hand (and thinking to save a few bucks).
The Dodgers and the Astros are the two juggernauts in NL and AL respectively, each with over 24% chance of winning the whole thing.
This is a record year for wins, with four 100 win teams (Astros, Yankees, Twins, Dodgers), and four 100 loss clubs (Tigers, Royals, Orioles, Marlins).
Can one of the wild card teams play spoiler against the Dodgers or Astros in the division series? Will the Dodgers go three consecutive appearances in the World Series in a row? (The last time that happened was the Oakland A's in 88-90 and before that the Yankees in 76-78). Will the A's overcome their inability to win playoff series in the past two decades? Can the Brewers surprise everyone and make a deep run?
If they make it past tonight, can the Washington Nationals win a playoff series?
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:45 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:45 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
Just leaving this here:
LET'S GO OAKLAND
posted by turbowombat at 2:46 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
LET'S GO OAKLAND
posted by turbowombat at 2:46 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
Well they've facing the Dodgers if they do, so good luck!
posted by Carillon at 2:46 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by Carillon at 2:46 PM on October 1, 2019
Well Cleveland bowed out, so I no longer have a dog (dawg?) in this fight, so I'll just say anybody but the Yankees.
And of course I'm glad Boston is done.
posted by SystematicAbuse at 2:47 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
And of course I'm glad Boston is done.
posted by SystematicAbuse at 2:47 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
I've got an extra ticket 4 rows behind home plate for the Oakland WC game tomorrow night, if any mefite is interested I will part with it at cost (currently they're going for about $500...so, if it doesn't sell before you catch me). Memail me if interested. A's fans only need apply.
LET'S GO OAKLAND
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:52 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
LET'S GO OAKLAND
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:52 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sorry to correct you, but the Red Sox can't trade Mookie Betts, it's illegal.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Also it's pretty astounding to have a 97 win season and barely squeak in for a wild card spot. What a year.
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
But I'm here for Brewers v Nationals, that's a win either way.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:54 PM on October 1, 2019
This is the year I got Mrs. CoB to be more into baseball than I ever was. So, with her in mind, GO TWINNNNNS
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:55 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 2:55 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
Well, it's a win if the Nationals win it . . .
posted by mattamatic at 2:56 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by mattamatic at 2:56 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Oakland coliseum is gonna be rocking tomorrow, the prediction is over 50k people! It's gonna be a party.
posted by Carillon at 3:03 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by Carillon at 3:03 PM on October 1, 2019
Gig 'em, Longhorns!
posted by GoblinHoney at 3:04 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by GoblinHoney at 3:04 PM on October 1, 2019
The Orioles didn't finish in last place, which is a kind of victory, in a certain sense...
posted by codacorolla at 3:04 PM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 3:04 PM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
Will i be wearing a Josh Phegly jersey to work tomorrow?
You bet your sweet ass it'll read PTBNL on my back!
posted by East14thTaco at 3:36 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
You bet your sweet ass it'll read PTBNL on my back!
posted by East14thTaco at 3:36 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
For anyone without a rooting interest, here's a rough ranking of the historical haplessness of the teams that are in it:
1) Rays - Absolutely godawful until 2008, but have been consistently good since. Should get basically all the underdog credit you're willing to allocate since they can only get to the playoffs through the biggest teams in baseball. Made a World Series once but lost pretty solidly in it.
2) Brewers - Intermittently good in recent years, points for actually spending money to try and win in an offseason where half the league did nothing. Lost a close World Series in 1982, which is as close as they've come.
3) Nationals - Pretty good for most of this decade but somehow still unable to win even a playoff series. You might want to move them lower on this list if you're still mad about the Expos, a sentiment which I respect but do not share. Have never won anything but can't really claim underdog status most of the time.
4) Twins - Did a couple of worst-to-first turns in the late 80s/early 90s. Had some success in the 00s, but haven't had a team that won as much as this one since the 60s. Last won in 1991.
5) Athletics - Had huge amounts of sustained success in the 10s, 20s, 70s, 80s, and 00s. Still get some plucky underdog credit because they have a smallish budget and have to churn through a lot of their roster every year. Last won a World Series in 1989.
6) Braves - A very up and down last decade, but one of the most successful teams of the 90s/00s. Won the 1995 World Series and have been back in 1996 and 1999.
7) Astros - Won 2 years ago, but at least don't have an incredibly long history of success/insufferable fans (yet), unlike everyone below them on this list.
8) Dodgers - Haven't won it all since 1988 but cannot in good conscience be considered an underdog by anyone. Lost the last two World Series, so you can't even say they haven't had their chances.
9) Cardinals - Haven't had a losing season in the last decade and always seem to outperform their talent. Had dynasty-level teams in the 30s, 40s, and 60s. Last won in 2011.
10) Yankees - Ugh, come on. Last won in 2009.
posted by Copronymus at 3:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [15 favorites]
1) Rays - Absolutely godawful until 2008, but have been consistently good since. Should get basically all the underdog credit you're willing to allocate since they can only get to the playoffs through the biggest teams in baseball. Made a World Series once but lost pretty solidly in it.
2) Brewers - Intermittently good in recent years, points for actually spending money to try and win in an offseason where half the league did nothing. Lost a close World Series in 1982, which is as close as they've come.
3) Nationals - Pretty good for most of this decade but somehow still unable to win even a playoff series. You might want to move them lower on this list if you're still mad about the Expos, a sentiment which I respect but do not share. Have never won anything but can't really claim underdog status most of the time.
4) Twins - Did a couple of worst-to-first turns in the late 80s/early 90s. Had some success in the 00s, but haven't had a team that won as much as this one since the 60s. Last won in 1991.
5) Athletics - Had huge amounts of sustained success in the 10s, 20s, 70s, 80s, and 00s. Still get some plucky underdog credit because they have a smallish budget and have to churn through a lot of their roster every year. Last won a World Series in 1989.
6) Braves - A very up and down last decade, but one of the most successful teams of the 90s/00s. Won the 1995 World Series and have been back in 1996 and 1999.
7) Astros - Won 2 years ago, but at least don't have an incredibly long history of success/insufferable fans (yet), unlike everyone below them on this list.
8) Dodgers - Haven't won it all since 1988 but cannot in good conscience be considered an underdog by anyone. Lost the last two World Series, so you can't even say they haven't had their chances.
9) Cardinals - Haven't had a losing season in the last decade and always seem to outperform their talent. Had dynasty-level teams in the 30s, 40s, and 60s. Last won in 2011.
10) Yankees - Ugh, come on. Last won in 2009.
posted by Copronymus at 3:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [15 favorites]
Also, for those of you who like Oakland sports because of the city there's an actual professional football club operating right under your nose.
posted by East14thTaco at 3:50 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by East14thTaco at 3:50 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
You know what they say: the 28th one is the hardest....
posted by jenkinsEar at 3:51 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by jenkinsEar at 3:51 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
It's funny -- and by funny I mean completely depressing -- to see baseball analytics transformed from something plucky small market teams like the A's, Royals, and Rays have used to punch above their weight in recent years into something mid-market and larger teams like the [Cleveland baseball team name here] and my own beloved Phillies are cynically exploiting to justify their decision not to devote more resources to competing in a given season.
Cleveland telegraphed their intention to phone it in during the offseason, in which they left glaring holes in their lineup, hoping their stacked rotation could carry them. They faced a lot of unpredictable setbacks, including Carrasco's leukemia, Kluber's injury, and Bauer regressing into a shell of himself, yet still were in a position to make a run. And they pissed it all away.
The Phillies, meanwhile, seem to be doing their best to bring about peak analytics cynicism. Their justification for not doing anything significant at the deadline was that it would just be for a one game wild card matchup vs. the Dodgers. Isn't that what you want? So it's hard to win a WC game and then turn around and win in the NLDS. But it's a lot harder if you never get there again.
I'll be rooting for the A's in the AL and the Brewers in the NL. But it'll probably be a LAD-HOU WS with HOU sweeping.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Cleveland telegraphed their intention to phone it in during the offseason, in which they left glaring holes in their lineup, hoping their stacked rotation could carry them. They faced a lot of unpredictable setbacks, including Carrasco's leukemia, Kluber's injury, and Bauer regressing into a shell of himself, yet still were in a position to make a run. And they pissed it all away.
The Phillies, meanwhile, seem to be doing their best to bring about peak analytics cynicism. Their justification for not doing anything significant at the deadline was that it would just be for a one game wild card matchup vs. the Dodgers. Isn't that what you want? So it's hard to win a WC game and then turn around and win in the NLDS. But it's a lot harder if you never get there again.
I'll be rooting for the A's in the AL and the Brewers in the NL. But it'll probably be a LAD-HOU WS with HOU sweeping.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
As a Cubs fan, I am still pissed at the 'collapse' (it wasn't really. Bunch of 1 run games is not a collapse). I am rooting for the A's, historically the second best team in the AL.
posted by indianbadger1 at 4:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by indianbadger1 at 4:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Pulling for the Brewers, but I'll root for anyone to bring the Yankees and the Cardinals low. (If it's Yankees-Cardinals, I guess the Cardinals can win, but I'm not going to be happy about it)
posted by thecaddy at 4:03 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by thecaddy at 4:03 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yankees/Cardinals is the Series America deserves.
posted by East14thTaco at 4:14 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by East14thTaco at 4:14 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
So you're saying the Senators still don't have a chance this year? Phoo ...
posted by Quasirandom at 4:16 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Quasirandom at 4:16 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
In St. Louis you will be able next year to swim in a pool right beside the game at ballpark village
posted by robbyrobs at 4:18 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by robbyrobs at 4:18 PM on October 1, 2019
^f mets
0 results
/me enjoys mets fan satisfaction with any season > .500
posted by mikelieman at 4:34 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
0 results
/me enjoys mets fan satisfaction with any season > .500
posted by mikelieman at 4:34 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I will be at the Coliseum tomorrow night. I'm glad they're hosting the high-stakes all-or-nothing wild card this year. Husband and daughter had a terrible experience as (non-obnoxious) A's fans at Yankee Stadium during last year's wild card game. Yankees suck and many of their fans suck right along with them.
LET'S GO OAKLAND!
posted by rekrap at 4:38 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
LET'S GO OAKLAND!
posted by rekrap at 4:38 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yankees/Cardinals is the Series America deserves.
As bad as the country has been this year, it still wasn’t so bad as to deserve the Yankees.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
As bad as the country has been this year, it still wasn’t so bad as to deserve the Yankees.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]
My mother loved the Yankees. So go Yanks.
posted by Splunge at 4:49 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 4:49 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
/observes postseason mopily
/checks out NPB standings
Say, Rakuten is only 7 games back of Seibu!
/ponders. frowns, turns away
posted by mwhybark at 4:53 PM on October 1, 2019
/checks out NPB standings
Say, Rakuten is only 7 games back of Seibu!
/ponders. frowns, turns away
posted by mwhybark at 4:53 PM on October 1, 2019
Go Twins!
posted by Ber at 5:08 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Ber at 5:08 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
Meh, mwhybark. We watched the Marines slowly piss away their chance at the postseason. Stupid Golden Eagles.
Chiba4ライフ!
posted by Ghidorah at 5:13 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Chiba4ライフ!
posted by Ghidorah at 5:13 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Go Twins!!!! I'm hoping for a Twins/NL Wildcard World Series. I like both the Brewers and the Nats... probably the Nationals a bit more due to the Twins diaspora of Suzuki, Dozier, and Rodney.
posted by Gray Duck at 5:20 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Gray Duck at 5:20 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Looks like I'll be the lonely Rays fan in the room. RaysUp, baby!
PS: No kidding, the Rays have never lost a game that I've attended with my wife and kids. They're 9-0 when the four of us go. Sadly we're not able to fly to Oakland.
PPS: The Twins would be my second choice. Baseball gods, can't you please, please let them take one damn post-season series from the Yankees?
posted by martin q blank at 5:21 PM on October 1, 2019
PS: No kidding, the Rays have never lost a game that I've attended with my wife and kids. They're 9-0 when the four of us go. Sadly we're not able to fly to Oakland.
PPS: The Twins would be my second choice. Baseball gods, can't you please, please let them take one damn post-season series from the Yankees?
posted by martin q blank at 5:21 PM on October 1, 2019
With the Red Sox out I guess I'll fall back on living in Atlanta for most of the 90s and jump on the Braves bandwagon for the playoffs. Really anybody but the Yankees will be ok.
posted by COD at 5:29 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by COD at 5:29 PM on October 1, 2019
We have a 2-13 win-loss ratio against the Yankees in postseason play since '03. The Yankees are the brick wall that the Twins run up against every freaking year we get to the postseason. It's infuriating and depressing and we want it over with so damned bad. Getting past the Yankees will be such a lift.
Both teams are currently hitting dingers like there's no tomorrow (but the Twins won the all-time record for home runs in the regular season...307 to 306) and both teams have some issues with pitching. So I'm expecting 4-hour games with scores like 15-13. Potentially fun, potentially excruciating.
posted by Gray Duck at 5:30 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
Both teams are currently hitting dingers like there's no tomorrow (but the Twins won the all-time record for home runs in the regular season...307 to 306) and both teams have some issues with pitching. So I'm expecting 4-hour games with scores like 15-13. Potentially fun, potentially excruciating.
posted by Gray Duck at 5:30 PM on October 1, 2019 [5 favorites]
It warms my heart to see so many Oakland fans here on the Blue. There's a community spirit around this team that in my romantic heart rivals the "they may be bums but they're our bums" hometown pride in the Brooklyn Dodgers.
I will also be at the Coliseum tomorrow night, and all day in Lot B. Stop by and say hi! I'll be the guy sitting on my tailgate working on my laptop.
posted by turbowombat at 5:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
I will also be at the Coliseum tomorrow night, and all day in Lot B. Stop by and say hi! I'll be the guy sitting on my tailgate working on my laptop.
posted by turbowombat at 5:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
As a Twins fan living in NYC, I attended one playoff game in each of the series they played here in 2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010, as well as the wildcard game in 2017. They lost every one of those games.
I'm happy to report that I will not be attending this year.
posted by theory at 5:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm happy to report that I will not be attending this year.
posted by theory at 5:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Yankees/Cardinals is the Series America deserves.
Twins/Brewers is the Series the Upper Midwest deserves.
posted by escabeche at 5:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
Twins/Brewers is the Series the Upper Midwest deserves.
posted by escabeche at 5:53 PM on October 1, 2019 [9 favorites]
Go Twins!
As a Rangers fan (living in StL) I swear to the baseball gods, if Nellie Cruz wins a championship before the Rangers do...
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:54 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
As a Rangers fan (living in StL) I swear to the baseball gods, if Nellie Cruz wins a championship before the Rangers do...
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:54 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
My grandfather loved the A's when they were in Philadelphia, and even though he continued to live here for thirty years after the A's left, he never learned to love the Phillies. So, for him, I'll root for the A's.
Bitter boos to NL East teams and the Yankees.
posted by gladly at 5:59 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Bitter boos to NL East teams and the Yankees.
posted by gladly at 5:59 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I never thought I'd live to see the day where Cleveland was called a mid-market and larger team, so that at least takes some of the sting off not making the playoffs. They're a bottom-3 attendance team that made it into the bottom-10 with the string of division titles. When the run is over, the Dolans's one source of income dries up, and there's nothing rich people hate more than not being more rich.
posted by miguelcervantes at 6:03 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by miguelcervantes at 6:03 PM on October 1, 2019
I am rooting for the teams that are not the Yankees, Cardinals, or Brewers.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 PM on October 1, 2019
What is this MLB Playoff thing you speak of? Teams get to play past September? How is that possible?
posted by octothorpe at 7:14 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by octothorpe at 7:14 PM on October 1, 2019
I will also be at the Coliseum tomorrow night, and all day in Lot B. Stop by and say hi! I'll be the guy sitting on my tailgate working on my laptop.
Very cool that's also where my parking pass is so I'll be around as well.
posted by Carillon at 7:23 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Very cool that's also where my parking pass is so I'll be around as well.
posted by Carillon at 7:23 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Brewers came to play tonight. Nats down 3-1 in the 8th at home.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:26 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:26 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Here for my sweet baby Brewers. And for anyone who isn’t the Yankees or cardinals!
posted by silverstatue at 7:27 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by silverstatue at 7:27 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Husband and daughter had a terrible experience as (non-obnoxious) A's fans at Yankee Stadium during last year's wild card game. Yankees suck and many of their fans suck right along with them.
I watched that game last year and was amazed when the cameras panned the stands and it was all men. I mean I'm sure it wasn't, mathematically speaking, but A's games are so family friendly it was definitely not what I'm used to in terms of fan demographics.
That said I'm sure the Coliseum drummers are equally as surprising to many people. It's gonna be loud tomorrow night! Hopefully no one falls off Mt. Davis. Let's go Oakland!
posted by oneirodynia at 7:29 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I watched that game last year and was amazed when the cameras panned the stands and it was all men. I mean I'm sure it wasn't, mathematically speaking, but A's games are so family friendly it was definitely not what I'm used to in terms of fan demographics.
That said I'm sure the Coliseum drummers are equally as surprising to many people. It's gonna be loud tomorrow night! Hopefully no one falls off Mt. Davis. Let's go Oakland!
posted by oneirodynia at 7:29 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Hopefully no one falls off Mt. Davis. Let's go Oakland!
I will be in the cheapest cheap seats on Mt. Davis tomorrow night.
This will be my first in person post-season game. It's gonna be fabulous!
posted by dfm500 at 7:39 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I will be in the cheapest cheap seats on Mt. Davis tomorrow night.
This will be my first in person post-season game. It's gonna be fabulous!
posted by dfm500 at 7:39 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I've gotta root for my Cardinals... it can't be helped. Baseball in St. Louis is a public religion, and Busch Stadium is its church.
posted by honeybee413 at 7:43 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by honeybee413 at 7:43 PM on October 1, 2019
Oh God can you imagine the Twitter denizens losing their shit over the drums tomorrow? It's gonna be great.
posted by Carillon at 7:46 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Carillon at 7:46 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is probably an unreasonably superstitious thought, but at least the Giants did us the favor of having a shitty year, so that the San Andreas fault won’t celebrate with a 30th anniversary commemoration of the last crossbay series. Things have changed since then, of course, but while Oracle Park might be seismically sound, reinforcing the Embarcadero Seawall next to it is still a work in progress.
posted by Meghamora at 7:50 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Meghamora at 7:50 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Well, that was a big Buckner moment for the Brewers. Nats up 4-3 going into the 9th.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:58 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:58 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
Heartbreaking. Guess I’ll be hate watching from here on out.
posted by silverstatue at 8:05 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by silverstatue at 8:05 PM on October 1, 2019
Nationals! Wow.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:06 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:06 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
That was some good postseason ball.
posted by Gray Duck at 8:18 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Gray Duck at 8:18 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh, looks like there's a series starting on Friday with my favorite two baseball teams: The Twins, and whoever is playing against the Yankees.
posted by ckape at 8:19 PM on October 1, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by ckape at 8:19 PM on October 1, 2019 [6 favorites]
> I watched that game last year and was amazed when the cameras panned the stands and it was all men. I mean I'm sure it wasn't, mathematically speaking, but A's games are so family friendly it was definitely not what I'm used to in terms of fan demographics.
Yankee Stadium is very male-dominated, with a high proportion of preening, seething, aggressive men. It's really different to most other ballparks I've been to in that regard. Almost every time I've been there with friends to see the Twins play we've been spat at, had stuff thrown at us, or have been threatened with physical violence.
I have no idea why it's this way. I grew up in Minnesota and have lived in NYC for almost 20 years. People here are as friendly and decent as anywhere else, but for some reason the crowds at games are overwhelmingly male and are just the worst (though Philly football fans might dispute that last point).
posted by theory at 9:11 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Yankee Stadium is very male-dominated, with a high proportion of preening, seething, aggressive men. It's really different to most other ballparks I've been to in that regard. Almost every time I've been there with friends to see the Twins play we've been spat at, had stuff thrown at us, or have been threatened with physical violence.
I have no idea why it's this way. I grew up in Minnesota and have lived in NYC for almost 20 years. People here are as friendly and decent as anywhere else, but for some reason the crowds at games are overwhelmingly male and are just the worst (though Philly football fans might dispute that last point).
posted by theory at 9:11 PM on October 1, 2019 [4 favorites]
Gotta love it when a game comes down to a couple of stars like Hader and Soto, who is just phenomenal. And funny how even at this level, it often comes down to fundamentals.
posted by martin q blank at 9:30 PM on October 1, 2019
posted by martin q blank at 9:30 PM on October 1, 2019
Hopefully no one falls off Mt. Davis. Let's go Oakland!
I will be in the cheapest cheap seats on Mt. Davis tomorrow night.
This will be my first in person post-season game. It's gonna be fabulous!
Mt Davis is kind of amazing. For those that have never been, it's very steep, with great views of San Francisco and the Oakland skyline, and nearly none of the outfield! You end up talking to everyone to try to figure out if someone hit a home run :) I agree that it's going to be fabulous and fun!
posted by oneirodynia at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I will be in the cheapest cheap seats on Mt. Davis tomorrow night.
This will be my first in person post-season game. It's gonna be fabulous!
Mt Davis is kind of amazing. For those that have never been, it's very steep, with great views of San Francisco and the Oakland skyline, and nearly none of the outfield! You end up talking to everyone to try to figure out if someone hit a home run :) I agree that it's going to be fabulous and fun!
posted by oneirodynia at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
What's with all the negative waves for the Yankees?
I will again be pulling for the Yankees as I have for the past 50 years or so. Every year around this time, I pray for atonement and for another World Series championship.
May Thurman Munson be looking down on them and shine the light of victory.
posted by AugustWest at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I will again be pulling for the Yankees as I have for the past 50 years or so. Every year around this time, I pray for atonement and for another World Series championship.
May Thurman Munson be looking down on them and shine the light of victory.
posted by AugustWest at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Scott Ostler's Mt. Davis expedition, for non-BayAreans (er, BayAreanauts? I've never figured out a satisfying shorthand for people in this general area).
posted by oneirodynia at 10:06 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by oneirodynia at 10:06 PM on October 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I sometimes use the privileged behavior of yankee and red sox fans as a mirror into white and male
privilege for those who don't think it exists. If folks are fans of other teams it can be instructive because you're on the other side for once if you're a straight white male. Common views -
1) Chosen team deserves the WS each year due to self described virtues of the fans versus other fanbases
2) Assumption that other teams are favored over them in media coverage (the opposite is true)
Both teams are top 5 in payroll going back 20 years. Yankees are almost always #1. Silver spoon and all that. [In fairness the yankees are well run, Brian Cashman is one of the best executives in the league, he just doesn't get much credit because of the payroll.]
I've seen fist fights at Giants versus Dodger games but in my opinion the provincialism of the northeast is something else entirely. It's only a degree removed from soccer hooliganism in Europe.
I am a Twins fan and won't be watching much of the series with the Yankees, they're going to be grueling 5 hour games reminiscent of the mid 2000s games between the yankees and red sox, minus the bad blood and Pedro Martinez tossing Don Zimmer to the ground. The 1991 WS took years off my life, and now my heart is 28 years older.
posted by MillMan at 10:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
privilege for those who don't think it exists. If folks are fans of other teams it can be instructive because you're on the other side for once if you're a straight white male. Common views -
1) Chosen team deserves the WS each year due to self described virtues of the fans versus other fanbases
2) Assumption that other teams are favored over them in media coverage (the opposite is true)
Both teams are top 5 in payroll going back 20 years. Yankees are almost always #1. Silver spoon and all that. [In fairness the yankees are well run, Brian Cashman is one of the best executives in the league, he just doesn't get much credit because of the payroll.]
I've seen fist fights at Giants versus Dodger games but in my opinion the provincialism of the northeast is something else entirely. It's only a degree removed from soccer hooliganism in Europe.
I am a Twins fan and won't be watching much of the series with the Yankees, they're going to be grueling 5 hour games reminiscent of the mid 2000s games between the yankees and red sox, minus the bad blood and Pedro Martinez tossing Don Zimmer to the ground. The 1991 WS took years off my life, and now my heart is 28 years older.
posted by MillMan at 10:42 PM on October 1, 2019 [3 favorites]
I don't know, I think the whole show lasts far too long now.
I'm a casual fan but I watch when I can.
3 rounds + a wild card?
It's too much.
Starting a Series the 4th week of October?
Forget about it, I'm baseball'd out by then.
posted by madajb at 12:12 AM on October 2, 2019
I'm a casual fan but I watch when I can.
3 rounds + a wild card?
It's too much.
Starting a Series the 4th week of October?
Forget about it, I'm baseball'd out by then.
posted by madajb at 12:12 AM on October 2, 2019
For lovers of baseball stats, the Yankees have made (but not won) a World Series in every decade since the 20s.
This is their last shot for this decade, and it's a neat streak I'd hate to see end, even though as someone raised in Mets territory I am obligated to hate the Yankees.
posted by madajb at 12:20 AM on October 2, 2019
This is their last shot for this decade, and it's a neat streak I'd hate to see end, even though as someone raised in Mets territory I am obligated to hate the Yankees.
posted by madajb at 12:20 AM on October 2, 2019
Go, Twins. Also: Tor-tuuuuuuuu-gaaaaa.
posted by wenestvedt at 3:34 AM on October 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 3:34 AM on October 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
The turning point of last night's game with the radio call synced up to the tv broadcast.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:22 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:22 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Soto’s game winning hit!
That's an error, right? Do they still score it as a hit for purposes of batting average, etc?
It looks like it would have been a base hit even if the outfielder had stopped it, especially since the throw probably would have gone to the plate. Does that matter to the above question?
/Baseball class is hard!
posted by thelonius at 4:39 AM on October 2, 2019
That's an error, right? Do they still score it as a hit for purposes of batting average, etc?
It looks like it would have been a base hit even if the outfielder had stopped it, especially since the throw probably would have gone to the plate. Does that matter to the above question?
/Baseball class is hard!
posted by thelonius at 4:39 AM on October 2, 2019
The ball fell in before the fielder could have reached it, so it'd be scored as a hit, but the fielder could also be credited with an error if the official scorer felt they misplayed the ball once they reached it allowing the batter or runners to take extra bases. That is what I believe they scored it as looking at the box score, but I didn't see the game so I can't say for certain.
posted by gusottertrout at 5:22 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 5:22 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Rays will win it all, then leave the city under the cover of darkness, only to appear in Montreal a few days later.
And yes, I'm a Tampa Bay person.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 5:53 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
And yes, I'm a Tampa Bay person.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 5:53 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
You might want to move them lower on this list if you're still mad about the Expos, a sentiment which I respect but do not share.
This Expos fan could never get himself to support the Nationals. It's kinda like when your partner leaves you for someone new -- you may have it in your heart to wish them well, but not too well.
Sunday was the 15th anniversary of our final game. At its end, listening to the radio, I just sat in a parked car and wept.
After years in the wilderness, I found my new team in the Pirates. They are... also not in the postseason.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:36 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
This Expos fan could never get himself to support the Nationals. It's kinda like when your partner leaves you for someone new -- you may have it in your heart to wish them well, but not too well.
Sunday was the 15th anniversary of our final game. At its end, listening to the radio, I just sat in a parked car and wept.
After years in the wilderness, I found my new team in the Pirates. They are... also not in the postseason.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:36 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
God, I miss Bartolo Colón.
posted by avocet at 6:51 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by avocet at 6:51 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
/Baseball class is hard!
Sometimes, yeah! In this case, the official scorer credited Soto with a single and two runs batted in. So yeah, that is counted to his batting average.
Baseball pedantry, sorry if you already know all this:
The scorer also assigned an error to the outfielder (Grisham). The scorer also said Hader gave up three runs, of which two were "earned" -- meaning, two resulted from "legit" hits and one from a fielding error.
So essentially they're saying that two runs scored because of Soto's hit, and the other would not have scored if Grisham had fielded the ball cleanly and thrown it in. Which seems about right.
posted by martin q blank at 7:18 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sometimes, yeah! In this case, the official scorer credited Soto with a single and two runs batted in. So yeah, that is counted to his batting average.
Baseball pedantry, sorry if you already know all this:
The scorer also assigned an error to the outfielder (Grisham). The scorer also said Hader gave up three runs, of which two were "earned" -- meaning, two resulted from "legit" hits and one from a fielding error.
So essentially they're saying that two runs scored because of Soto's hit, and the other would not have scored if Grisham had fielded the ball cleanly and thrown it in. Which seems about right.
posted by martin q blank at 7:18 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
I live in Houston. I hate baseball, but I saw this joke yesterday and it made me laugh:
Q: "What's the difference between a Minute Maid Park hot dog and a Globe Life Park hot dog?"
A: "You can buy a Minute Maid hot dog in October."
posted by uberchet at 7:18 AM on October 2, 2019 [7 favorites]
Q: "What's the difference between a Minute Maid Park hot dog and a Globe Life Park hot dog?"
A: "You can buy a Minute Maid hot dog in October."
posted by uberchet at 7:18 AM on October 2, 2019 [7 favorites]
Oakland's own MC Hammer to throw out first pitch at A's wild-card game (Jessica Kleinschmidt, NBC Sports)
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:34 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:34 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
So, there’s a local furniture chain in Houston called Gallery Furniture, owned by a guy nicknamed “Mattress Mac”, who used to (maybe still does?) wear a mattress as a costume and talk about furniture deals in his TV commercials.
They run a promo where if the Astros win the World Series, you get a refund on your furniture. They had to pay out last time, with no complaints from Mattress Mac as everyone was delighted that they actually won it for the first time since they joined the league in 1962.
This year, Mattress Mac is hedging, by among other things placing the largest (legal) sports bet in the history of Mississippi, getting odds on the Astros winning it all.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:39 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
They run a promo where if the Astros win the World Series, you get a refund on your furniture. They had to pay out last time, with no complaints from Mattress Mac as everyone was delighted that they actually won it for the first time since they joined the league in 1962.
This year, Mattress Mac is hedging, by among other things placing the largest (legal) sports bet in the history of Mississippi, getting odds on the Astros winning it all.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:39 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
uberchet: That is an oldie that used to be told like this: This _____ is harder to get than a hot dog at Fenway in October. Obviously, that is different now, but my dad loved to break that one out in the 80s and 90s.
posted by oflinkey at 7:40 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by oflinkey at 7:40 AM on October 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
> This Expos fan could never get himself to support the Nationals.
As well you shouldn't, they un-retired Gary Carter's number.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:09 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
As well you shouldn't, they un-retired Gary Carter's number.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:09 AM on October 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Starting a Series the 4th week of October?
Forget about it, I'm baseball'd out by then.
Yeah, expanding the season was a mistake.
posted by mikelieman at 8:12 AM on October 2, 2019
Forget about it, I'm baseball'd out by then.
Yeah, expanding the season was a mistake.
posted by mikelieman at 8:12 AM on October 2, 2019
oflinkey, that's probably a better formulation, too, because it's easier to deploy.
Gallery Furniture is actually a pretty interesting local institution. I've lived here 25 years; by the time I'd gotten here he'd stopped dressing as a mattress, and segued his ads into the more iconic normally-dressed pitch that ended with his two key taglines: buy today, get it today (no backorders, no delayed delivery; it's coming TODAY) and the oft-parodied "Gallery Furniture SAVES! YOU! MONEYYYYY!" cry, which he typically delivered while jumping up and down and tossing money in the air.
That phrase is now indelibly etched into every Houstonia's brain, just like local news fixture (now sadly departed) Marvin Zindler's coda on every restaurant health report: the dreaded claim of "sliiiiiiime in the ice machine!." (The whole restaurant inspection beat was a weird sort of coda to his legitimately fantastic career.)
Mac himself is, hilariously, also Wikipedia-notable. He's gotten old, and he has the politics of a rich old white man, but he was a serious asset to this city during Harvey.
Houston of old was rich in these sorts of capital-C Characters. As we've gotten bigger and fancier, we've lost some that. Trumpkin or not, I'll miss Mack when he's gone.
posted by uberchet at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Gallery Furniture is actually a pretty interesting local institution. I've lived here 25 years; by the time I'd gotten here he'd stopped dressing as a mattress, and segued his ads into the more iconic normally-dressed pitch that ended with his two key taglines: buy today, get it today (no backorders, no delayed delivery; it's coming TODAY) and the oft-parodied "Gallery Furniture SAVES! YOU! MONEYYYYY!" cry, which he typically delivered while jumping up and down and tossing money in the air.
That phrase is now indelibly etched into every Houstonia's brain, just like local news fixture (now sadly departed) Marvin Zindler's coda on every restaurant health report: the dreaded claim of "sliiiiiiime in the ice machine!." (The whole restaurant inspection beat was a weird sort of coda to his legitimately fantastic career.)
Mac himself is, hilariously, also Wikipedia-notable. He's gotten old, and he has the politics of a rich old white man, but he was a serious asset to this city during Harvey.
Houston of old was rich in these sorts of capital-C Characters. As we've gotten bigger and fancier, we've lost some that. Trumpkin or not, I'll miss Mack when he's gone.
posted by uberchet at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
Soto getting hug-tackled by his dad was wonderful.
posted by Cash4Lead at 12:13 PM on October 2, 2019
posted by Cash4Lead at 12:13 PM on October 2, 2019
Soooo...The A’s/Rays game is on both ESPN and ESPN2...with two different announcing teams. Personally, I’m going with Jessica Mendoza.
Why would ESPN schedule like this? It seems needlessly expensive.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:06 PM on October 2, 2019
Why would ESPN schedule like this? It seems needlessly expensive.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:06 PM on October 2, 2019
Fuck Tampa.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:13 AM on October 3, 2019
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:13 AM on October 3, 2019
Soooo...The A’s/Rays game is on both ESPN and ESPN2...with two different announcing teams...Why would ESPN schedule like this?
Oh Thorzdad, you're missing out.
The ESPN2 crew is doing the Statcast broadcast. So while the ESPN team talks gibberish like "grit" and "clutch hitting" and "pitchers who know how to win," the Statcast team will be talking launch angle, spin rate, win probability added by play, etc...
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:07 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh Thorzdad, you're missing out.
The ESPN2 crew is doing the Statcast broadcast. So while the ESPN team talks gibberish like "grit" and "clutch hitting" and "pitchers who know how to win," the Statcast team will be talking launch angle, spin rate, win probability added by play, etc...
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:07 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
@sportscenter: Gerrit Cole's and Justin Verlander's combined salary is nearly 78% of the Rays' 25-man payroll 😬
@dj_mosfet: Indeed, that's pretty disgusting on Tampa Bay's pa--*holds hand to ear* I'm being told the intended message is that Cole and Verlander shouldn't be paid what they're owed.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:52 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
@dj_mosfet: Indeed, that's pretty disgusting on Tampa Bay's pa--*holds hand to ear* I'm being told the intended message is that Cole and Verlander shouldn't be paid what they're owed.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:52 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
It’s OK, Cole will be getting a raise before next season. And the Tigers are still (partially) paying Verlander.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:19 PM on October 3, 2019
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:19 PM on October 3, 2019
Belatedly I put up a Fanfare livewatch post.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:51 PM on October 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:51 PM on October 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by chavenet at 2:43 PM on October 1, 2019 [8 favorites]