Baseball playoffs

[am1]

You get thrown out and now can’t hit a sac fly to win it.

No worse than getting picked off walking to 2nd base. Getting thrown out at second for not tagging after a catch. Thrown out at the plate with bases loaded because you were only a few feet off the base. Any more base running errors in the last two games.

Hard to blame Bo for his slow running and not advancing if he was still hurt and did hit a 3 run homer.

But yes 1st and 3rd I doubt the ball is being thrown to second.

 

[davidvel]

No worse than getting picked off walking to 2nd base. Getting thrown out at second for not tagging after a catch. Thrown out at the plate with bases loaded because you were only a few feet off the base. Any more base running errors in the last two games.

Hard to blame Bo for his slow running and not advancing if he was still hurt and did hit a 3 run homer.

But yes 1st and 3rd I doubt the ball is being thrown to second.

Even failing to take a normal lead off 3rd, if he runs through home instead of sliding, he is easily safe and a WS Champion. No even remotely close. It has been well established at 1st base that running through is much faster than sliding in any fashion, and same applies to home. Especially with a slower runner. No reason to slide while Smith has foot planted on/ above the plate and not going to attempt a tag on a force play.

In and of itself this running blunder, which is an easier play, cost them a ring.

 

[dioxide45]

Even failing to take a normal lead off 3rd, if he runs through home instead of sliding, he is easily safe and a WS Champion. No even remotely close. It has been well established at 1st base that running through is much faster than sliding in any fashion, and same applies to home. Especially with a slower runner. No reason to slide while Smith has foot planted on/ above the plate and not going to attempt a tag on a force play.

In and of itself this running blunder, which is an easier play, cost them a ring.

Yeah, that is probably something that should have been communicated to him by the 3rd base coach between batters. I don't know about remotely close though. It is said that running through might only get you an extra half second. A lot also depends on where the runner is in the stride when they get there.

Fact remains that the Jays left far too many runners in scoring position in the last few innings of the game. I don't know what their stat probably was, but certainly 0 and something. As a team known for scrappy hits, they certainly didn't come through when they needed it.

Someone had to win and someone had to lose. That's how all sports work. It is rough to get so close and not get the prize. Winning is hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. You never know if you'll get another chance. At least in the Jays of the early 90s, they were pretty consistent and we knew they had a chance going into the next year. I don't think the same can be said this year. Did the team change that much from the last place team in 2024? Was it just something special that came together at the right time for the Jays? I guess we will have to wait to find out. They could lose several of their key contributors in the off season. Win or lose, it was still good for sports in Toronto (and Canada).

Kinda rough for Don Mattingly who was still looking for a WS ring after a long career as a player, manager and coach.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I'm sure a few know this quote: "winning baseball = pitching + fundamentals + three-run homers"
LA simplified that and shrunk it. "winning baseball = A pitcher + Solo homers"
I think LA hit 10 solo homers in the WS, of 11 HRs they hit. Look it up. Crazy if that is true.
Crazier that they can win the WS that way, when 6 of their 9 batters stunk, and only 1 was very good.
Even crazier since TOR's defense was fine. I didn't watch every game, but it was fine, right?
TOR just really screwed up the Fundamentals of base-running and clutch hitting in the close games.

 

[davidvel]

Yeah, that is probably something that should have been communicated to him by the 3rd base coach between batters. I don't know about remotely close though. It is said that running through might only get you an extra half second. A lot also depends on where the runner is in the stride when they get there.

Fact remains that the Jays left far too many runners in scoring position in the last few innings of the game. I don't know what their stat probably was, but certainly 0 and something. As a team known for scrappy hits, they certainly didn't come through when they needed it.

Someone had to win and someone had to lose. That's how all sports work. It is rough to get so close and not get the prize. Winning is hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. You never know if you'll get another chance. At least in the Jays of the early 90s, they were pretty consistent and we knew they had a chance going into the next year. I don't think the same can be said this year. Did the team change that much from the last place team in 2024? Was it just something special that came together at the right time for the Jays? I guess we will have to wait to find out. They could lose several of their key contributors in the off season. Win or lose, it was still good for sports in Toronto (and Canada).

Kinda rough for Don Mattingly who was still looking for a WS ring after a long career as a player, manager and coach.

I've seen different reports that the time Smith's foot got back down was a tenth or less. If he ran full stride he would have been off the plate when Smith caught it. Champs.

 

[am1]

I'm sure a few know this quote: "winning baseball = pitching + fundamentals + three-run homers"
LA simplified that and shrunk it. "winning baseball = A pitcher + Solo homers"
I think LA hit 10 solo homers in the WS, of 11 HRs they hit. Look it up. Crazy if that is true.
Crazier that they can win the WS that way, when 6 of their 9 batters stunk, and only 1 was very good.
Even crazier since TOR's defense was fine. I didn't watch every game, but it was fine, right?
TOR just really screwed up the Fundamentals of base-running and clutch hitting in the close games.

With putting Shohei first they do not mind solo homers. A change in strategy. Not the only team.

 

[gln60]

Yeah, that is probably something that should have been communicated to him by the 3rd base coach between batters. I don't know about remotely close though. It is said that running through might only get you an extra half second. A lot also depends on where the runner is in the stride when they get there.

Fact remains that the Jays left far too many runners in scoring position in the last few innings of the game. I don't know what their stat probably was, but certainly 0 and something. As a team known for scrappy hits, they certainly didn't come through when they needed it.

Someone had to win and someone had to lose. That's how all sports work. It is rough to get so close and not get the prize. Winning is hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. You never know if you'll get another chance. At least in the Jays of the early 90s, they were pretty consistent and we knew they had a chance going into the next year. I don't think the same can be said this year. Did the team change that much from the last place team in 2024? Was it just something special that came together at the right time for the Jays? I guess we will have to wait to find out. They could lose several of their key contributors in the off season. Win or lose, it was still good for sports in Toronto (and Canada).

Kinda rough for Don Mattingly who was still looking for a WS ring after a long career as a player, manager and coach.

A little Yankee trivia…Don Mattingly is the ONLY Yankee to have his number retired without ever winning a World Series…”Donnie Baseball”was one hell of a baseball player.

 

[SmithOp]

Saw this posted regarding that close call at the plate.

 

[davidvel]

Saw this posted regarding that close call at the plate.

View attachment 117853

This photo tells us nothing, as you cannot see when the ball is caught and the dynamic motion of his foot coming up and back down. All that said it appeared to be the right call by the ump and was too inconclusive to overturn. Had he been called safe I believe it also would not have been overturned. They would never decide a championship on a call this close and disputed. They would leave it to the call on the field.

 

[dioxide45]

This photo tells us nothing, as you cannot see when the ball is caught and the dynamic motion of his foot coming up and back down. All that said it appeared to be the right call by the ump and was too inconclusive to overturn. Had he been called safe I believe it also would not have been overturned. They would never decide a championship on a call this close and disputed. They would leave it to the call on the field.

I would agree. I doubt the umpire even saw the foot come up the half inch to an inch. So that part likely wasn't even a consideration for the call on the field.

 

[Brett]

all the second guessing ....

https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball...d-series-game-7-ec0f45be?mod=sports_lead_pos2

 

[JohnnyO]

All I know is good friends of mine are miserable with all the Doyer fans going nuts in So Cal. They don't like the Doyers nor the fact that they stole SO from the Angels with their double dealing "extended" contract. IMHO the MLB blundered with allowing that kind of contract. They basically bought themselves their latest championships. I liked them when Frank the parking lot attendant from Boston was the owner.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

hey don't like the Doyers nor the fact that they stole SO from the Angels

Sorry. They didn't steal Ohtani from the Angels. The Angels lost him because of Arte Moreno's utter incompetence as an owner.

How can a team have two of the best players of all time and not make the playoffs even one time???

I think it's clear with Ohtani that the personal accomplishments are more important than money. When he left Japan he left tens of millions of dollars on the table by not waiting until he was a unrestricted free agent. But he opted to come to the US early because achieving his personal goals was more important than the money.

When he signed with the Angels, it was because with the Angels he had the opportunity to be a landmark player for the franchise. Had he signed withe Mariners, for example, he would have been in the shadow of Ichiro. But he went to the Angels, who had zero history of involvement with major Asian players.

After six years of a nothing burger with the Angels for his decision, he was ready for a platform that showcased his talents in a way that the Angels for six years had established that they wer incapable of doing.

Yes, the Dodgers contract was nice. But that was just the icing on the cake. He could have signed with the Yankees, the Jays, and some other teams for not much difference in money. But the Dodgers gave him the best chance to realize his goals, while also being more convenient for travel to Japan and allowing him to be connected with the significant east Asian communities on the West Coast.

 

[JohnnyO]

Agreed on Arte’s complete incompetence as an owner. Took a franchise from the top to the bottom. And no way do I blame Ohtani who also offered the Angels the chance to match or up the offer. But the Doyers did expose how the MLB certainly has a problem with the so called “luxury tax” and the ridiculous salary deferrals. That was the theft I was referring to. What’s the solution? Debatable … sorry I don’t know if this article is behind a paywall or not.

How can MLB address revenue disparity without a salary cap? Here are a few ideas — The Athletic

A salary cap is not the answer for Major League Baseball. The mere threat of one might trigger a lengthy work stoppage. And the sport can address the revenue disparity between its biggest and smaller spenders in other ways.

apple.news

 

[am1]

Work stoppage is coming. Too many non contenders. Should be a hard floor and cap.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Agreed on Arte’s complete incompetence as an owner. Took a franchise from the top to the bottom. And no way do I blame Ohtani who also offered the Angels the chance to match or up the offer. But the Doyers did expose how the MLB certainly has a problem with the so called “luxury tax” and the ridiculous salary deferrals. That was the theft I was referring to. What’s the solution? Debatable … sorry I don’t know if this article is behind a paywall or not.

How can MLB address revenue disparity without a salary cap? Here are a few ideas — The Athletic

A salary cap is not the answer for Major League Baseball. The mere threat of one might trigger a lengthy work stoppage. And the sport can address the revenue disparity between its biggest and smaller spenders in other ways.

apple.news

Negotiations for a new labor agreement between the players and MLB are coming up. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. No matter what is said, there are only two issues at play. The owners will be trying maximize profitability, and the players will be trying to ensure that there are few, if any, limits on how much owners spend on player salaries.

To me, as a fan, what will be most important is a system in which better managed teams have a consistent edge, regardless of market size. There is talk about "competitive balance", how in MLB there is actually more turnover in the World Series as compared with the Super Bowl winner in the NFL..

I don't care about turnover at the top. I want better managed teams to consistently come out on top, as a reward for being better managed. And I want that to be independent of "market size". Growing up in Minnesota, I don't like the Packers. Nevertheless, I appreciate that the Packers have largely outperformed the Vikings, even though the Packers are one of the smallest market teams.

That's what I would like to see in MLB. For example, Tampa is a team that, despite their marketing limits, have been able to be competitive in a ferocious AL East. I would love to see what Tampa could do if they weren't constrained to sell off young player just to stay within fiscal constraints. What if Tampa had close to the same financial flexibility as the Yankees. Would they be the AL East dynasty?

 

[bizaro86]

Negotiations for a new labor agreement between the players and MLB is coming up. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. No matter what is said, there are only two issues at play. The owners will be trying maximize profitability, and the players will be trying to ensure that there are little, if any, limits on how much owners spend on player salaries.

To me, as a fan, what will be most important is a system in which better managed teams have a consistent edge, regardless of market size. There is talk about "competitive balance", how in MLB there might be greater turnover at the top.

I don't care about that. I want better managed teams to consistently come out on top. And I want that to be independent of "market size". Growing up in Minnesota, I don't like the Packers. Nevertheless, I appreciate that Packers have largely outperformed the Vikings, even though the Packers are one of the smallest market teams.

That's what I would like to see in MLB. For example, Tampa is a team that, despite their marketing limits, have been able to be competitive in a ferocious AL East. I would love to see what Tampa could do if they weren't constrained to sell off young player just to stay within fiscal constraints. What if Tampa had close the same financial flexibility as the Yankees. Would they be the AL East dynasty?

I think in a system where all the teams spent about the same Tampa would have been a dynasty. Likely the Cleveland Guardians win a few championships as well, imo.

 

[pedro47]

I wonder how many players from Japan will play in the major league (MLB) this season?