2020 MLB Postseason

[andyb]

Second tough inning in a row but he got out of a bases loaded jam. I'd probably pull him now after 5. Remember he has hardly ever pitched in cool weather in his life. Limited time at Lakewood and he often started seasons late.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Apparently the Marlins have made a rallying cry of “Bottom Feeders”, a reference to a Ricky Botallico comment about their team during their opening series with the Phillies.

[zambonir]

Thanks a lot, Ricky!

I think I can masochistically root for the Marlins. Easy to root against the Braves and don't especially want more Cardinals/Dodgers. We'll see about the Padres I guess.

[mdougherty12]

The Marlins have still never lost a postseason series.

[el-pietro]

So the NL Central was dogcrap right*?

*3 game series don't tell us anything about the relative quality of these teams.

[zambonir]

Cards look like the better team in the other series but we shall see.

Cubs offense went ice cold late. Red were like us in '07, hottest teams until the playoffs started.

[mdougherty12]

Padres beat the Cardinals 4-0, Central teams go 0 for 7 in the first round of the playoffs.

[zambonir]

9 Padres pitchers.

I'd say that round went about as well as MLB could have hoped as far as there not being too much chaos. 1-2 seeds prevailed in both leagues, Houston kind of a unique "underdog," only the Marlins-Cubs series was a major upset.

4 NL Central losses do make you wonder if the Phillies were actually worse than any of those teams, but they had their window.

All four Division Series are intra-division, that's obviously new!

[BostonRoss]

All four Division Series are intra-division, that's obviously new!

Appropriate this year since most of the regular season was intra-division..

[andyb]

Sixto on the mound with the Marlins down 2-0. The Braves saw him twice during the year and hit him the second time. 123 first inning on 5 pitches as the Braves are swinging aggressively.

[andyb]

Things not going so well now for Sixto. A bunch of walks and down 3-0.

[zambonir]

This is one of those "I'm rooting for a sinkhole" series. With the Padres likely out too, looks like I'm gonna be rooting for the Rays (because they really do deserve it) or even the Astros (because that's really what MLB deserves).

[Philsmania]

Yeah, it looks like it's striking Midnight for the Cinderella Marlins. There seems to be a chance that the Athletics tie things up with the excrable Astros.

[zambonir]

Billy Beane's (stuff) doesn't work in the playoffs

[Philsmania]

Billy Beane's (stuff) doesn't work in the playoffs

Had the Rays lost to the Yankees last night, I would have said the same thing about them. But, they advance and snap a four postseason series losing streak.

[zambonir]

Which is why all the Rays' front office talent leaves - more money for themselves, and when you add to money to a great baseball culture you win. Bu despite his quote Beane seems happy to stick with his fiefdom.

[Philsmania]

Which is why all the Rays' front office talent leaves - more money for themselves, and when you add to money to a great baseball culture you win. Bu despite his quote Beane seems happy to stick with his fiefdom.

Interesting that the Rays owners have discussed splitting their franchise between Tampa Bay and Montreal because, in many ways, the Rays have become the new Expos (pre-MLB control). For years until MLB took control of the franchise and gutted it, the Expos perennially had a top-notch scouting and development operation which continually churned out stars and the Expo organization was always ahead of the curve in terms of analytics, scouting and developing international talent and other new ideas. Unfortunately, they were confined to a small market and played in a dismal, state-of-the-past municipally-owned domed stadium that didn't generate revenue by itself and, as a result, they were revenue-challenged and lacked the ability to keep the stars they kept churning out for more than five or six years. It also wasn't uncommon to see them deal with a brain drain as their general managers often got poached by other organizations (Murray Cook, Bill Stoneman, Dave Dombrowski, Dan Duquette and Kevin Malone all hired away by other teams to be their GM). The result of all of that was that the Expos were perennial contenders but--1994 notwithstanding--they always seemed to confront a glass ceiling which prevented them from rising to a championship level and really going toe-to-toe with the league's best teams.

[andyb]

I am a little disappointed they stuck with 28-man rosters for the postseason. The move from 26 to 28 was all about COVID and especially about having fewer off days. Even with these 2 postseason series having no off days, teams get like 3 days off before a 5 or 7 game series.

What this has led to is bullpen games. It is definitely an advantage for Tampa because of how they are built, but probably for the Dodgers also. As for TV viewing, it creates even longer games with more bullpen switches. The 3-batter rule often does not apply as the pitcher can finish the inning.

They should have dropped rosters back to 26 for the playoffs. With injury replacements as needed (and maybe even a slightly relaxed COVID rule).

[zambonir]

I guess the union was happy to have two more guys getting playoff shares. But it feels like the playoffs have been all about the bullpens (and starters as relievers) for several years already. Was pretty surprised to see Aaron Loup out there last night but overall I don't imagine the bottom of the bullpens will see much action

[andyb]

Aaron Loup would have been the best pitcher in the Phillies' 2020 bullpen.