2021 MLB Playoffs

[zambonir]

Seems unlikely we need new threads for each round but we can cross that bridge later.

I gotta admit that the schedule seems kind of light after last season! Like, only one game on today. But, the best-of-three round was mostly worthless last year (in addition to being too large).

Boston up 2-0 after three.

[LoneStarPhan]

I like the 3 game wild card set up and I would like to see each series after that be the best of seven.

Red Sox add a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th. Three walks load the bases and a two out single drives in two, with the hitter (Verdugo) out at second trying for the double.

Red Sox up 6-1 after 7 innings. Looking like the Yankees get to play only one more game than the Phillies this season.

[bkox]

These win or go home playoff games seem very stressful and we don’t give the Phillies enough credit for not putting us through them

— Franzke & LA ( @FranzkeLA ) October 6, 2021

[BostonRoss]

I like that the division winners have an advantage over the wild card teams. And it's a huge advantage as the WC winner will not have its best starting pitcher for a few games into the division series.

There would still be a smaller advantage for the division winners if the wild card playoff was best of three. I wouldn't be surprised if MLB went that way to make more money. They don't car how far into November the World Series goes.

[zambonir]

They're not going to do eight teams I don't think, so the advantage of the division winners could be a bye. This would assume a two-division realignment (otherwise the weak third division winner would be in the wild card round).

The other thing they kept talking about was division winners get home field for the entire three-game series, and/or they get to pick their oppoonent.

[andyb]

If they ever expand to 32 teams, 4 divisions of 8 teams with the winners getting byes make so much sense. Then 4 wild cards per league play a first round (3 games?) to get to the division series. If all 3 of those games are at the stadium of the higher wild card seed then it only takes 3 total days for that series. 12 teams in the playoffs after a 154-162 game season is better than 16 which minimizes the division winning advantage and provides opportunities for the best clubs to lose quickly.

[zambonir]

Yeah, I wonder if they will lock in expansion with this CBA or just create a provision where it (and any changes to alignment/playoffs) will be revisited when the time comes. But I don't think they want to replicate the 2020 playoff format at any point in the short-term.

[andyb]

I just don't want 8 divisions of 4 teams. As this year in the NL East shows, it really runs a danger of getting a losing team into the playoffs and frankly I'd rather play an 8-team division 12 times a year than a smaller division 18-20 times.

[bkeich]

If they add enough playoff teams maybe the Phillies can make it. It would be nice if a .500 team could win the WS wouldn’t it

[mdougherty12]

It was only 15 years ago that the 83 win Cardinals won the World Series.

[LoneStarPhan]

Dodgers beat Cardinals 3-1.

Bellinger walks with two out in bottom of the ninth. Taylor hits home run as Dodgers walk it off.

[bkox]

Tony La Russa last 2 postseason games managed:

October 28, 2011
World Series Game 7
Lance Lynn relieves for Cardinals

October 7, 2021
ALDS Game 1
Lance Lynn starts for White Sox

3,631 days in between.

— Christopher Kamka ( @ckamka ) October 7, 2021

[BostonRoss]

The managers are a combined 149 years old!

[VoteForKalas]

October 28, 2011
World Series Game 7
Lance Lynn relieves for Cardinals

October 7, 2021
ALDS Game 1
Lance Lynn starts for White Sox

That is pretty incredible

[zambonir]

MLB announces Jorge Soler tested positive for covid-19 and will be replaced on the roster by Cristian Pache for Game 4.

— Chelsea Janes ( @chelsea_janes ) October 12, 2021

[zambonir]

Announcers noting that if the Dodgers take this, Braves get home field in NLCS.

[bkox]

which is a major flaw in the playoff system IMO

[zambonir]

I mean even this series being a five-game feels wrong. If they do expand (both playoffs and # of teams total) it might be addressed to some extent but I doubt they'd ever go full NBA

[bkox]

Darin Ruf hits a 452ft bomb to tie the game

[zambonir]

I have one prayer for tonight's game. However it's decided, I hope there's no goat, no single player to shoulder the blame for a loss like Bill Buckner in the 1986 series between the @RedSox and @Mets .

— Vin Scully ( @TheVinScully ) October 14, 2021