MLB Playoffs thread

[MartyFunkhouser]

The AL is set and the NL is looking like it is set.

The Giants and the Braves are definitely the 2 best teams of the 3 teams fighting for the 2 remaining spots, and I'm pretty sure both will make it.

One thing is for sure, the Rays and Yankees are the 2 best teams in the MLB playoffs and I'm not sure that anyone is even that close to them.

Yankees have a +170 run differential
Rays have a +155 run differential

What is impressive about the Yankees and Rays run differentials is that did that with another good team (that probably would have made the playoffs if they had the benefit of playing in the NL or the AL West).

Ranking the likely playoff teams:

1) Yankees
2) Rays
3) Phillies
4) Twins
5) Giants
6) Braves
7) Rangers (really fell apart late in the season)
8) Reds

I really think that 3-6, maybe even 3-7, is splitting hairs among the teams. You really could argue any order with those teams. IMO, the Reds are clearly the worst team. However, with how the MLB playoffs can go and the luck that factors in, I somewhat expect them to win the whole damn thing.

If I was a betting man, my money would be on the Yankees.

[filsdepac]

Giants v. Braves

Timmy will be well rested for Thursday, but I'm curious to see how they'll use Bumgarner. I assume in relief but he's usually better after pitching a couple innings, so we'll see. I'm wondering if the Braves will have Hudson pitch on short rest.

Should be a good series, with 1-2 run game differentials. Giants in 5.

[Guest]

Is anyone else watching this gem? Talk about dealing. Halladay just had a seven pitch 8th.

[YOhio]

Is anyone else watching this gem? Talk about dealing. Halladay just had a seven pitch 8th.

Not really worth watching, IMO.

[Guest]

Not really worth watching, IMO.

I know your post is TIC, but this is the best post-season start since '67 (at this point).

[Guest]

Next stop: Don Larsen.

[Guest]

That's it. What a play by the catcher!

[hostile]

Unbelievable. Halladay was on the corners of the strike zone all day. Great game.

[filsdepac]

If the Giants and Phillies meet in the next round, he might just have two no-hitters in one playoffs.

[Clark Addison]

I have a guy who works for me up in our Wilmington DE office. On Monday, he asked if it was OK for him to take off a little early today since he had tickets for the Phillies game. I should have told him "no".

[CJF]

Ranking the likely playoff teams:

1) Yankees
2) Rays
3) Phillies
4) Twins
5) Giants
6) Braves
7) Rangers (really fell apart late in the season)
8) Reds

I really think that 3-6, maybe even 3-7, is splitting hairs among the teams. You really could argue any order with those teams. IMO, the Reds are clearly the worst team. However, with how the MLB playoffs can go and the luck that factors in, I somewhat expect them to win the whole damn thing.

If I was a betting man, my money would be on the Yankees.

I just saw this. I think the Phillies are the best team in baseball right now. I don't know what they're doing today but the way they've played through major injuries and the potential they have on their staff, they should win it all. That team is built to win it all and I would be shocked if they don't. I think the Rays are the second best team followed by the Yankees. I think it will be Phils and Giants in the NLCS and Yankees and Rays in the ALCS. Phils and Rays advance. Phillies win it all in 5 or 6.

[wuapinmon]

I just saw this. I think the Phillies are the best team in baseball right now. I don't know what they're doing today but the way they've played through major injuries and the potential they have on their staff, they should win it all. That team is built to win it all and I would be shocked if they don't. I think the Rays are the second best team followed by the Yankees. I think it will be Phils and Giants in the NLCS and Yankees and Rays in the ALCS. Phils and Rays advance. Phillies win it all in 5 or 6.

HOLY SHIT!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/sp...s.html?_r=1&hp

[hostile]

HOLY SHIT!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/sp...s.html?_r=1&hp

I was home early from work and watched the last several innings with my son. It was fun to talk with him about pitching strategy and location. The graphic that TBS uses to show where the ball crossed the strike zone really emphasized how well Halladay worked the strike zone today.

[cougjunkie]

I think the Phillies are a great team and their front line starters are as good as it gets.

One team people are overlooking is Texas. They are finally healthy after struggling with injuries by key players all season long. Yet they still ran away with their division and won 90 games.

They rolled out a lineup today that looked like this:

Elvis Andrus
Michael Young
Josh Hamilton
Vladimir Guerrerro
Nelson Cruz
Ian Kinsler
Jeff Francoeur
Jorge Cantu
Bengie Molina

That is pretty tough top to bottom.

[wuapinmon]

I was home early from work and watched the last several innings with my son. It was fun to talk with him about pitching strategy and location. The graphic that TBS uses to show where the ball crossed the strike zone really emphasized how well Halladay worked the strike zone today.

He may not remember today, but he will remember you doing things like this with him. Baseball was the only thing that kept my dad and I close. We loved Dale Murphy, Phil Neikro, and the 1991-2007 teams. Our season tickets in 1989 were so bad that we joked that we had season tickets for the visiting teams.