Road to the Postseason 2018

[Nate Colbert]

A's whomping the Angels 21-2.

Final score 21-3. 3.5 games back.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Angels battled back to make it 21-3.

[austro]

Angels battled back to make it 21-3.

They're a spunky group. A lesser team would have just rolled over.

[astrojo]

I sure hope Astros can go 7-3 in their last 10 because I don’t think A’s will lose another.  And with no starting pitching and a suspect bullpen. Their offense just does not quit.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Oakland:
3 hosting Minnesota
3 at Seattle
3 at Los Angels Angels of Anaheim California,  a Walt Disney Production

So,  yes,  best strategy is to plan on winning 7 of the remaining games.

[Jacksonian]

Oakland:
3 hosting Minnesota
3 at Seattle
3 at Los Angels Angels of Anaheim California,  a Walt Disney Production

So,  yes,  best strategy is to plan on winning 7 of the remaining games.

The good news is the Astros are on the road for their final seven.

[NeilT]

This is great news.  The A’s just blew their entire remaining allotment of offense in a single game.

[das]

The good news is the Astros are on the road for their final seven.

POTW.  Well done.

[Snuffy]

This is great news.  The A’s just blew their entire remaining allotment of offense in a single game.

Unlikely, but they certainly provided 21 incentives to to the Angels to provide a "proper" Anaheim welcome later this month. 
Here's hoping...

[Astros Fan in Big D]

One of the options at lunch toda was frito pie.

I did my part.

[Fredia]

try the one at  Cover 3

[das]

Are you kidding me?  What in the world is McTaggart thinking?  Who writes a headline like this before the division is clinched? 

Astros heading for postseason date with Tribe
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-look-to-face-indians-in-alds-matchup/c-295557464

[utastro]

One of the options at lunch toda was frito pie.

I did my part.

I completely forgot about the effect (affect? whatever) of frito pie.  After my daughter's HS volleyball match ended I decided I was hungry and I saw that the concession stand had frito pie.  I haven't had frito pie in forever so what the hell give me a frito pie.  I got home just in time for the Astros game, ate my frito pie, and bam, Yuli hits a grand slam.  Now I understand the power of the frito pie.

[austro]

I completely forgot about the effect (affect? whatever) of frito pie.  After my daughter's HS volleyball match ended I decided I was hungry and I saw that the concession stand had frito pie.  I haven't had frito pie in forever so what the hell give me a frito pie.  I got home just in time for the Astros game, ate my frito pie, and bam, Yuli hits a grand slam.  Now I understand the power of the frito pie.

What's unclear to me is whether you now need to eat frito pie every day, or if we need to find a new frito pie (semi-)virgin every day.

[NeilT]

What's unclear to me is whether you now need to eat frito pie every day, or if we need to find a new frito pie (semi-)virgin every day.

You don’t need to eat Frito pie every day, at least before the playoffs. You need to eat Frito pies at critical junctures. You don’t need to eat Frito pies from different places, or from the same place.  All Frito pies are cosmically linked.

I think I’ll go to Avalon Grill for lunch.

[JimR]

Having Frito pie tonight after the football game.

[utastro]

Having Frito pie tonight after the football game.

Maybe you should have it before the football game.  Just in case it has the same effect.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What if I take a beautifully marbled prime NY strip, sprinkle it lightly with chili powder, salt, pepper and cumin, grill it to medium rare and lay it over a bed of Frito corn chips. Does that count as Frito pie? How about if I boil the steak?

[NeilT]

What if I take a beautifully marbled prime NY strip, sprinkle it lightly with chili powder, salt, pepper and cumin, grill it to medium rare and lay it over a bed of Frito corn chips. Does that count as Frito pie? How about if I boil the steak?

Onions? Cheese?

[JimR]

Maybe you should have it before the football game.  Just in case it has the same effect.

Do not want to dilute its effect.

[JimR]

Onions? Cheese?

and chili powder is not chili

[NeilT]

So I’m having my Frito pie at Avalon Grill and Bregman just walked in.

[juliogotay]

So I’m having my Frito pie at Avalon Grill and Bregman just walked in.

Did you explain to AB how this works?

[jbm]

So I’m having my Frito pie at Avalon Grill and Bregman just walked in.

I was expecting more. He didn’t walk in with a Rabbi and a Priest.

[Ty in Tampa]

I was expecting more. He didn’t walk in with a Rabbi and a Priest.

...with a poodle under one arm and a 2-foot salami under the other.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

What's unclear to me is whether you now need to eat frito pie every day, or if we need to find a new frito pie (semi-)virgin every day.

That's unhealthy and irresponsible.

What needs to happen every day is HH downing a bottle of rum.

Let's be smart out there people.

[Fredia]

candles lit and tamales in place

[das]

Doing my part.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuODRFQLVKb1iD8YBZpoHUDUvTpE

Don’t judge. Had to make due with what I had.

[NeilT]

Did you explain to AB how this works?

Damn. I only told him about the bottle of rum.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

and chili powder is not chili

Neither is that shit that comes out of a can.

[austro]

Braves clinch NL East with a win over the Phillies. I wonder how many dollars were lost on pre-season bets on the Nats.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

That's unhealthy and irresponsible.

What needs to happen every day is HH downing a bottle of rum.

Let's be smart out there people.

Nominated!

[juliogotay]

Braves clinch NL East with a win over the Phillies. I wonder how many dollars were lost on pre-season bets on the Nats.

Nats = Fool's Gold.

[Nate Colbert]

Magic number to clinch division now 3 after the A's loss.

[Fredia]

three is a magic number oh yes it is

[Nate Colbert]

When does the Will Harris bitching stop?

Since June 8: 34.1 IP, 22 H, 8 BB, 42 K, 0.87 WHIP.

Over his last 11 appearances, no runs allowed in 12 IP with just 3 hits and 2 walks allowed.

[JimR]

When does the Will Harris bitching stop?

Since June 8: 34.1 IP, 22 H, 8 BB, 42 K, 0.87 WHIP.

Over his last 11 appearances, no runs allowed in 12 IP with just 3 hits and 2 walks allowed.

My guess is he mostly pitched in clean innings and not in high leverage situations. I do not trust him with men on base in a close game.

[Waldo]

My guess is he mostly pitched in clean innings and not in high leverage situations. I do not trust him with men on base in a close game.

Since June 8:

High leverage: 2 IP, 4.50 ERA, .250/.286/.429 allowed
Medium leverage: 8.2 IP, 3.12 ERA, .172/.273/.345 allowed
Low leverage: 23.2 IP, 2.66 ERA, .172/.226/.221 allowed

Last 11 games:

High leverage: 0.1 IP, 0 ERA, .500/.500/1.000 allowed
Medium leverage: 3 IP, 0 ERA, .000/.182/.000 allowed
Low leverage: 7.2 IP, 0 ERA, .080/.080/.080 allowed

[JimR]

Since June 8:

High leverage: 2 IP, 4.50 ERA, .250/.286/.429 allowed
Medium leverage: 8.2 IP, 3.12 ERA, .172/.273/.345 allowed
Low leverage: 23.2 IP, 2.66 ERA, .172/.226/.221 allowed

Last 11 games:

High leverage: 0.1 IP, 0 ERA, .500/.500/1.000 allowed
Medium leverage: 3 IP, 0 ERA, .000/.182/.000 allowed
Low leverage: 7.2 IP, 0 ERA, .080/.080/.080 allowed

Thank you.

[Nate Colbert]

With the Rays loss tonight, A's clinch playoff spot.

Red Sox also clinched home field advantage in the ALCS tonight.

[Texifornia]

Boston will be Eastern Division champs and #1 seed.
Cleveland will be Central Division champs and #3 seed.
Houston or Oakland will be Western Division champs and #2 seed. (Houston's magic # to clinch is 2)
NY will be one of the WC teams and Houston or Oakland will be the other.

[HudsonHawk]

Boston will be Eastern Division champs and #1 seed.
Cleveland will be Central Division champs and #3 seed.
Houston or Oakland will be Western Division champs and #2 seed. (Houston's magic # to clinch is 2)
NY will be one of the WC teams and Houston or Oakland will be the other.

Just to pick a nit...

It's "East" and "West" Divisions, not "Eastern" and "Western".  Kind of like how MLB doesn't have "playoffs".

Carry on.

[Lefty]

Just to pick a nit...

It's "East" and "West" Divisions, not "Eastern" and "Western".  Kind of like how MLB doesn't have "playoffs".

Carry on.

So you're saying that the Rockets and Warriors won't meet in the Conference Finals?

[HudsonHawk]

So you're saying that the Rockets and Warriors won't meet in the Conference Finals?

They might.  I'm not getting the joke.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

They might.  I'm not getting the joke.

NBA:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference

[austro]

If the two wild card teams finish with identical records, I assume that head-to-head record is the first tie-breaker for home field. Is that correct? Does anybody know what the other tie-breakers are?

[HudsonHawk]

NBA:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference

Correct, but irrelevant. The NBA is basketball. The Astros are a baseball team. Completely different league, with different names for their divisions.

[juliogotay]

Just to pick a nit...

It's "East" and "West" Divisions, not "Eastern" and "Western".  Kind of like how MLB doesn't have "playoffs".

Carry on.

HInch used the term "playoffs" the other night (may have been last night) in his post-game press meet.

[jbm]

If the two wild card teams finish with identical records, I assume that head-to-head record is the first tie-breaker for home field. Is that correct? Does anybody know what the other tie-breakers are?

I thought someone on here said that that scenario requires a one game "playoff" to determine who plays in the wild card game.  Otherwise, the magic number would be 1.

[HudsonHawk]

HInch used the term "playoffs" the other night (may have been last night) in his post-game press meet.

It’s an uphill crusade, but I’m going to change the world, one man at a time.

[juliogotay]

It’s an uphill crusade, but I’m going to change the world, one man at a time.

I believe you.

[HudsonHawk]

I thought someone on here said that that scenario requires a one game "playoff" to determine who plays in the wild card game.  Otherwise, the magic number would be 1.

The question was about home field advantage between two teams that already qualified for the wild card. I think it is indeed head to head.

[jbm]

Ah, reading comprehension.  Thanks

[Astros Fan in Big D]

It’s an uphill crusade, but I’m going to change the world, one man at a time.

As soon as you reach your goal the focus groups will get it changed to "tournament".

[Bench]

I thought someone on here said that that scenario requires a one game "playoff" to determine who plays in the wild card game.  Otherwise, the magic number would be 1.

Home field for the one game playoff goes to the team with a better head to head record, which between the A's and the Astros would be the Astros.  Winner goes to the DS against the Indians, loser to the WC against the Yankees.

[TeeJoe]

Home field for the one game playoff goes to the team with a better head to head record, which between the A's and the Astros would be the Astros.  Winner goes to the DS against the Indians, loser to the WC against the Yankees.

I may have misunderstood you, but the one game playoff is between the (2) "Wildcard" teams. Winner of this game plays Boston (as they have the #1 seed w/ best record), loser is eliminated.  The other (2) division winners would play the DS. Cleveland has clinched the Central Division and would play the West Division winner.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Home field for the one game playoff goes to the team with a better head to head record, which between the A's and the Astros would be the Astros.  Winner goes to the DS against the Indians, loser to the WC against the Yankees.

But what are the tiebreakers if both teams have, say, split a six-game series against each other? Doesn't record-against-one's-own-division factor in at some point?

Also I just want to go on record that I'm a holdout in terms of the pronunciation of "tournament." I still say ternament, instead of the lately more fashionable tournament.

[Ty in Tampa]

I may have misunderstood you, but the one game playoff is between the (2) "Wildcard" teams. Winner of this game plays Boston (as they have the #1 seed w/ best record), loser is eliminated.  The other (2) division winners would play the DS. Cleveland has clinched the Central Division and would play the West Division winner.

I think his scenario is if the Division race is tied.

[TeeJoe]

Gotcha, that makes more gooder sense now. Thanks

[Jacksonian]

It’s an uphill crusade, but I’m going to change the world, one man at a time.

I propose post-season playoffs.  I'm pretty sure I can get the ESPN announcers to embrace it.

[astrojo]

The question was about home field advantage between two teams that already qualified for the wild card. I think it is indeed head to head.

I recently read that the tiebreaker for wild card teams for home field advantage (if head-to-head is tied) is each team’s record in their own division, which I read would give Yankees HFA.

[Bench]

I recently read that the tiebreaker for wild card teams for home field advantage is each team’s record in their own division, which I read would give Yankees HFA.

Correct.  If A's-Yankees tied, the WCG would be in the Bronx.

[austro]

I think his scenario is if the Division race is tied.

No, my question assumed that the division winners were settled, and just involved a tie between the two wild card teams. I was trying to avoid mentioning the Yankees and A's explicitly so as to avoid incurring the wrath of the BBG's, but I guess that ship has sailed.

[austro]

Correct.  If A's-Yankees tied, the WCG would be in the Bronx.

Danke.

[Nate Colbert]

Friday Oct. 5 is the series opener vs the Indians.

[Nate Colbert]

Jeff Passan  @JeffPassan 8h ago
Cubs 91-66
Brewers 91-67
Braves 89-68
Dodgers 88-70
Rockies 87-70
Cards 87-71

Cool: Real possibility of Game 163s Monday in Chicago and LA for NL Central/West titles.

Cooler: Three-way tie where Cards host NLW Game 163 loser for second WC.

Coolest: Six-way tie with 91 wins.

[JimR]

Jeff Passan  @JeffPassan 8h ago
Cubs 91-66
Brewers 91-67
Braves 89-68
Dodgers 88-70
Rockies 87-70
Cards 87-71

Cool: Real possibility of Game 163s Monday in Chicago and LA for NL Central/West titles.

Cooler: Three-way tie where Cards host NLW Game 163 loser for second WC.

Coolest: Six-way tie with 91 wins.

I like the way you think.

[moriartp]

Jeff Passan  @JeffPassan 8h ago
Cubs 91-66
Brewers 91-67
Braves 89-68
Dodgers 88-70
Rockies 87-70
Cards 87-71

Cool: Real possibility of Game 163s Monday in Chicago and LA for NL Central/West titles.

Cooler: Three-way tie where Cards host NLW Game 163 loser for second WC.

Coolest: Six-way tie with 91 wins.

#TeamEntropy

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I like the way you think.

Some men just want to watch the world burn.

[Limey]

I propose post-season playoffs.  I'm pretty sure I can get the ESPN announcers to embrace it.

So, in Drayton McLane speak, the winner of the game between the Yankees and A's will be the 2018 Post Season Playoff Wild Card Champions?

[Nate Colbert]

So in September...

• The Astros are 18-4
• Yuli is batting .367/.393/.608 for the month and .444/.468/.711 over his last 11 games
• Bregman's OPS for the month is even higher than Yuli's (1.020 vs 1.000)
• Despite the power outage, Springer is batting .337
• Verlander has a 1.33 ERA in his 4 starts with 40 K/4 BB in 27 IP
• Josh James has filled in nicely with a 2.57 ERA in 21 IP and 27 K/7 BB
• Pressly/Sipp/Harris haven't allowed a run in 20.2 IP out of the pen
• Osuna is 9-9 in save opportunities

[Bench]

So in September...

• The Astros are 18-4
• Yuli is batting .367/.393/.608 for the month and .444/.468/.711 over his last 11 games
• Bregman's OPS for the month is even higher than Yuli's (1.020 vs 1.000)
• Despite the power outage, Springer is batting .337
• Verlander has a 1.33 ERA in his 4 starts with 40 K/4 BB in 27 IP
• Josh James has filled in nicely with a 2.57 ERA in 21 IP and 27 K/7 BB
• Pressly/Sipp/Harris haven't allowed a run in 20.2 IP out of the pen
• Osuna is 9-9 in save opportunities

Easy there.  Don't want to peak too early.

[Jacksonian]

So, in Drayton McLane speak, the winner of the game between the Yankees and A's will be the 2018 Post Season Playoff Wild Card Champions?

Send that to ESPN too.

[moriartp]

So, in Drayton McLane speak, the winner of the game between the Yankees and A's will be the 2018 Post Season Playoff Wild Card Champions?

The Postseason Playoff Wild Card Champions of Anaheim.

[Limey]

Easy there.  Don't want to peak too early.

TWSS

[Astros Fan in Big D]

So in September...

• The Astros are 18-4
• Yuli is batting .367/.393/.608 for the month and .444/.468/.711 over his last 11 games
• Bregman's OPS for the month is even higher than Yuli's (1.020 vs 1.000)
• Despite the power outage, Springer is batting .337
• Verlander has a 1.33 ERA in his 4 starts with 40 K/4 BB in 27 IP
• Josh James has filled in nicely with a 2.57 ERA in 21 IP and 27 K/7 BB
• Pressly/Sipp/Harris haven't allowed a run in 20.2 IP out of the pen
• Osuna is 9-9 in save opportunities

3 of those 4 losses tied or had the lead in the 8th.

Pretty salty.

[LonghornCDR]

So in September...

• The Astros are 18-4
• Yuli is batting .367/.393/.608 for the month and .444/.468/.711 over his last 11 games
• Bregman's OPS for the month is even higher than Yuli's (1.020 vs 1.000)
• Despite the power outage, Springer is batting .337
• Verlander has a 1.33 ERA in his 4 starts with 40 K/4 BB in 27 IP
• Josh James has filled in nicely with a 2.57 ERA in 21 IP and 27 K/7 BB
• Pressly/Sipp/Harris haven't allowed a run in 20.2 IP out of the pen
• Osuna is 9-9 in save opportunities

Don’t forget Framber’s 2.08 ERA since August 21st.
And what’s really crazy is that it doesn’t feel like this team is playing that great.  We are living the dream as fans.   

[Limey]

3 of those 4 losses tied or had the lead in the 8th.

Pretty salty.

One of those losses involved this.

[austro]

So, in Drayton McLane speak, the winner of the game between the Yankees and A's will be the 2018 Post Season Playoff Wild Card Champions?

You can be sure that's what the banner in St Louis would say.

[Fredia]

it will never have the same umph as   coards

[Nate Colbert]

Final September results...

• The Astros went 21-6 (best in franchise history)
• Bregman hit just .169 over the final 3 weeks but still led the team with a .960 OPS and 6 home runs for the month
• Yuli went .411/.431/.625 over the final 2 1/2 weeks and his .946 OPS and 5 homers were 2nd to Bregman for the month
• Despite the power outage, Springer hit .330/.392/.466
• Reddick just .230 for the month but went .313/.421/.688 with 4 homers over the final 2 weeks
• Verlander had a 1.09 ERA in his 5 starts with 50 K/5 BB in 33 IP with just 16 hits allowed
• Josh James had a 2.35 ERA in 23 IP and a 29 K/7 BB
• Pressly/Sipp/Harris didn't allow a run in 23.2 IP out of the pen
• Osuna went 10-10 in save opportunities

[JimR]

Bregman’s swoon is worrisome.

[juliogotay]

Bregman’s swoon is worrisome.

Extremely. He carried the offense for weeks.

[Bench]

Any idea when start times for the games get announced?  Last year, they were announced the final Sunday evening of the season. 

[chuck]

Any idea when start times for the games get announced?  Last year, they were announced the final Sunday evening of the season.

They'll be at noon. Or earlier. Depending upon when the Yankees decide they want to start their games.

[Bench]

They'll be at noon. Or earlier. Depending upon when the Yankees decide they want to start their games.

I just need to know if I have to rearrange my Friday morning calendar or the entire day.  There's a chance the game is at 2:00.

[astrojo]

Bregman’s swoon is worrisome.

He’s been striking out a lot in a very un-Bregman-like way during this time.

[BlownRanger]

From the "Throw Conventional Wisdom Out the Door" department:  The post-season team with the fewest free agents is the Dodgers.  Next fewest is the Yankees.  The team with the most is the A's.

https://www.mlb.com/news/how-the-10-postseason-teams-were-built/c-296459836

[JimR]

From the "Throw Conventional Wisdom Out the Door" department:  The post-season team with the fewest free agents is the Dodgers.  Next fewest is the Yankees.  The team with the most is the A's.

https://www.mlb.com/news/how-the-10-postseason-teams-were-built/c-296459836

Kershaw can opt out.

[BlownRanger]

Kershaw can opt out.

The article is referencing how the current players were acquired.

[JimR]

The article is referencing how the current players were acquired.

Ah, sorry.

[Tom Servo]

Extremely. He carried the offense for weeks.

I think he'll be ready for the postseason.  Do I have anything to back that up?  No.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I think he'll be ready for the postseason.  Do I have anything to back that up?  No.

Sure you do.   He's got a great command of the strike zone, a compact swing,  and a set of cajones the size of the Astrodome.

And then there's this:

Check out @MLBStatoftheDay’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/MLBStatoftheDay/status/1046557837936156672?s=09

[Tom Servo]

Sure you do.   He's got a great command of the strike zone, a compact swing,  and a set of cajones the size of the Astrodome.

And then there's this:

Check out @MLBStatoftheDay’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/MLBStatoftheDay/status/1046557837936156672?s=09

True to all of that.  The other thing that comes to mind is all the games played without a day off.  Maybe the grind got to him.  He'll get some rest before the series starts.