Indians or Yankees?

[Limey]

The Indians are very good but, in the MLB thumb on the scales category, no more likely of help than the Astros.  The Yankees will get as much help as MLB thinks it can get away with...and then some.  Also, the TV coverage will be unbearable.  The TV people should be salivating over the thought of two 100-win teams going at it (and again in the Series, potentially), but they won't; they'll want the Yankees all the way and will crack a 4-hour+ boner over a Yankees - Dodgers World Series.

But the Astros will have home field advantage and a better shot at beating the Yankees, MLB's thumb notwithstanding.  I honestly can't decide.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I kinda want the Indians at this point, provided that Encarnacion is still hurt.  Taking 38 homers out of that lineup puts them at a huge disadvantage.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

I think the Indians and Astros are the class of the league and I want to beat the class of the league en route to the World Series. I'm for the Indians.

Fuck the fucking Yankees.

[Lefty]

I think the Indians and Astros are the class of the league and I want to beat the class of the league en route to the World Series. I'm for the Indians.

Fuck the fucking Yankees.

This.

[Limey]

I think the Indians and Astros are the class of the league and I want to beat the class of the league en route to the World Series. I'm for the Indians.

Fuck the fucking Yankees.

The Indians' top three starters are scary, but... Bauer got knocked out in the 2nd yesterday and Kluber goes tomorrow, so that could help.

[Ebby Calvin]

I've said all season that the Indians scare the shit out of me more than any other team.
MLB may want the Yanks to win but I think the rest of the country will root for the Stros and that sounds fun for once.
And I'm going to be in NY during the ALCS with access to tickets.

Go Yankees.

[Mr. Appropriate]

I think the Indians and Astros are the class of the league and I want to beat the class of the league en route to the World Series. I'm for the Indians.

Fuck the fucking Yankees.

yeah. fuck the fucking yankees in a brand new orifice made with something sharp and rusty.  all the same I think it does more for the national reputation of the Astros if they beat NY. Cleveland does not exist as part of the national consciousness. People who know nothing about baseball know who the yankees are, while some might be surprised that Cleveland Ohio, the Indians, and their repulsive mascot exist outside of the imagination of the people who made the movie Major League.

I think this year's Astros (especially the post-July 31 2017 Astros that resulted from the Verlander deal) are the kind of team that can define a franchise on the national scene. I want for people to see how great they are and there will be a lot more eyes on the team if they play the Yankees. I am sick of all the people who show up and cheer the other team at Astros game. I'd like a lot less of that and believe that this team is good enough to earn some respect, and maybe some love too.

For clarity, I will only be delighted if the Yankees loose to the Indians. Every Yankee loss is a beautiful thing.  I simply want the Astros to get in on causing Yankee heartache. Go Astros.

[Duke]

I'm with you Ebby.  Plus, no more day games if the get the Yanks.

[ValpoCory]

I don't care about reputation.  All I care is what gives the Astros the best chance to win a World Series.   There is a slightly higher chance with the Yankees being the opponent, largely due to home field advantage.   Having the last at bat is magnified in the postseason.   For example, home teams are 13-3 (.813) this postseason.

[Andyzipp]

I don't care about reputation.  All I care is what gives the Astros the best chance to win a World Series.   There is a slightly higher chance with the Yankees being the opponent, largely due to home field advantage.   Having the last at bat is magnified in the postseason.   For example, home teams are 13-3 (.813) this postseason.

This is where I am.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I've seen several people walking around here in Porto wearing Yankees' gear. Fuck the Yankees. Otherwise I haven't seen any evidence of MLB here, unless I look in the mirror. However, I prefer the Astros have home field advantage and not face the team that seems to have their number.

[JimR]

I've seen several people walking around here in Porto wearing Yankees' gear. Fuck the Yankees. Otherwise I haven't seen any evidence of MLB here, unless I look in the mirror. However, I prefer the Astros have home field advantage and not face the team that seems to have their number.

Great article on At Bat today you should read. History says regular season head to head has no relevance in the postseason.

[Limey]

Hopefully Game #5 is an 18+ inning marathon, beset by rain delays, and not finished until tomorrow.

[toddthebod]

Hopefully Game #5 is an 18+ inning marathon, beset by rain delays, and not finished until tomorrow.

With lots of fall allergies. 

[MusicMan]

I think the Indians and Astros are the class of the league and I want to beat the class of the league en route to the World Series. I'm for the Indians.

Fuck the fucking Yankees.

If the Astros win the World Series, I will not care if they beat the Toros and the Bad News Bears to do it.


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[ferret]

In sum, fuck the fucking Yankees, whenever. Also, fuck the fucking Cubs.

[das]

In sum, fuck the fucking Yankees, whenever. Also, fuck the fucking Cubs.

But not the Nats. At least not yet. I want to see the Astros live in games 3 and 4 of the World Series in DC in a couple of weeks.

[Fredia]

did cleveland peak to soon or just wear themselves out in that mammoth winning streak

[BudGirl]

did cleveland peak to soon or just wear themselves out in that mammoth winning streak

personally, I don't care.  I only care about the Yankees since they are the next opponent for the Astros.

[BlownRanger]

The Indians lost to a good team.  Sometimes it's just that simple: you lose.  There doesn't have to be an underlying, psychological explanation.

The way the Yankees won three in a row after the way they lost G2 is truly impressive.

[Limey]

did cleveland peak to soon or just wear themselves out in that mammoth winning streak

You're never as good as you look when you're winning.

[Mr. Appropriate]

The Indians llost to a good team.  Sometimes it's just that simple: you lose.  There doesn't have to be an underlying, psychological explanation.

The way the Yankees won three in a row after the way they lost G2 is truly impressive.

+1
And the way the Astros kept Boston from winning two must-win games in a row was pretty nice too.

[Limey]

And the way the Astros kept Boston from winning two must-win games in a row was pretty nice too.

Game #3 was a massive boot in the swingers - especially Betts robbing Reddick of a 3-run dinger to go up 6-0 early - which would've killed the game - and then poor Reddick having a 3-run homer bounce off his glove.

The Astros were those two plays away from three consecutive blowout wins over the Sawx.  Coming back and eking out the win in Game #4 was nails.  I like that they had that adversity and overcame it.  It'll help in the ALCS, with three consecutive games in Yankmee stadium.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

  I like that they had that adversity and overcame it.  It'll help in the ALCS, with three consecutive games in Yankmee stadium.

I felt even better about the team after game 4 than games 1 or 2.

[Reuben]

I felt even better about the team after game 4 than games 1 or 2.

I kinda did too. We all have seen how this offense can absolutely mash when they get rolling like, well, a big fucking freight train. But we've also seen them get tight, and all struggle with the bats at once. From Game 3, inning 2 on it kinda felt like they were reverting to that, but to get up off the mat and mount that classic late-game rally in Game 4, against 2 of the best pitchers, hands down, in the entire world, well... that tells you anything is possible.

[Bench]

I felt even better about the team after game 4 than games 1 or 2.

That's because they won the series after game 4.

[Mr. Happy]

The Indians lost to a good team.  Sometimes it's just that simple: you lose.  There doesn't have to be an underlying, psychological explanation.

The way the Yankees won three in a row after the way they lost G2 is truly impressive.

Having become a Tribe fan, on the orders of Mrs. Happy, with which I dutifully complied (I finally learned after two failed marriages-happy wife = happy life), I think that the Tribe may have gotten overconfident after the dramatic come-from-behind win in Game Two. Without Encarnacion, the Tribe's batting order becomes ordinary with some holes. It also didn't help much that Ramirez has been going up there to hit a five run homer every AB lately.

I had a text battle with a work colleague who is a Tribe nut. When I told him that Trevor Bauer had better stuff than  Cory Kluber, he became apoplectic and accused me of blasphemy. I tried to explain that Bauer has two plus-plus pitches and he's close on a third pitch. More velocity. More movement. I told him that Kluber was more consistent and was still a better pitcher than Bauer, whose problem lies between his ears, although he's come a long way this season.

In any event, I want to best the best, and that's the Yankees. So fuck them. and FTC.

[juliogotay]

Having become a Tribe fan, on the orders of Mrs. Happy, with which I dutifully complied (I finally learned after two failed marriages-happy wife = happy life), I think that the Tribe may have gotten overconfident after the dramatic come-from-behind win in Game Two. Without Encarnacion, the Tribe's batting order becomes ordinary with some holes. It also didn't help much that Ramirez has been going up there to hit a five run homer every AB lately.

I had a text battle with a work colleague who is a Tribe nut. When I told him that Trevor Bauer had better stuff than  Cory Kluber, he became apoplectic and accused me of blasphemy. I tried to explain that Bauer has two plus-plus pitches and he's close on a third pitch. More velocity. More movement. I told him that Kluber was more consistent and was still a better pitcher than Bauer, whose problem lies between his ears, although he's come a long way this season.

In any event, I want to best the best, and that's the Yankees. So fuck them. and FTC.

The Astros, I believe, have struggled against Bauer through the years. I'm too busy to look it up but that's my recollection.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

The Astros, I believe, have struggled against Bauer through the years. I'm too busy to look it up but that's my recollection.

Mine too. Famous last words and all, but I feel much better about the Yankees starting staff than the Cleveland top 3.

[HudsonHawk]

The Astros, I believe, have struggled against Bauer through the years. I'm too busy to look it up but that's my recollection.

In seven career starts against the Astros, Bauer is 7-0 with  2.89 ERA and .198 BAA. 

[austro]

In seven career starts against the Astros, Bauer is 7-0 with  2.89 ERA and .198 BAA. 

Wow, I had no idea.

[doyce7]

In seven career starts against the Astros, Bauer is 7-0 with  2.89 ERA and .198 BAA.

The that surprises me is that he has 7 starts. Seems like a lot for a team you play 6 times a year

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