Tag: MLB 2015 Playoff

The Royals (95 – 67) have the best record in the Junior League and you’d think they’d have a clear edge on the Astros (86 – 76).  Well, not so fast.  The Royals are reigning Champions and have the fewest strikeouts (Astros led the League), but they have the second to last number of Home Runs while the Astros have the second most.  The Royals do have Wade Davis, a devastating Reliever with a 0.94 ERA.

Starting for the Royals tonight is Yordano Ventura (R, 13 – 8, 4.08 ERA) while the Astros will be sending out Collin McHugh (R, 19 – 7, 3.89 ERA).  Tonight’s game is a tough call, on paper McHugh is a much better pitcher but, you know, Davis.

My prediction?  Royals in 4.

Game time is 7:30 on Fox Sports 1.

First some Meta.  Today we have two games, tomorrow, Friday, and potentially also Monday we will have four.  This is a lot of Baseball to cover and while we will put up Open Threads it will probably not be possible to live blog all the action.  Also TMC and I will be in meetings all weekend related to the impending transition of our sites to Wordpress.  In addition to that next weekend I have an out of state business appointment and it’s my understanding TMC does too.  It’s a very busy time and we’re doing the best we can.

Secondly, more Meta.  Major League Baseball, with the same genius instinct that led to the abomination that is the Designated Hitter, is showing some games on fairly obscure cable networks that many people do not subscribe to.

Today’s games are all on Fox Sports 1.  I may get that, I’d have to check.  Tomorrow’s 12:30 game between the Rangers and Blue Jays will be on MLB’s own network as will Sunday’s 4 pm game between the Royals and Astros.  Pretty sure I don’t get that.

If I can’t watch it I can’t live blog it so there will probably be some gaps due to that.  Also (see above) I will be out of state at least the 15th through the 17th and I have no clue what channels I’ll be able to get there, possibly not even TBS.

Now onto today’s first game.

The Blue Jays (93 – 89) are about the best team in baseball that isn’t playing in the Senior League.  Among their achievments they outscored opponents by 221 runs (that includes losses).  The Rangers (88 – 74) on the other hand are still somewhat scarred from their memorable 2 game fold against the Cardinals in 2011.

David Price (L, 18 – 5, 2.45 ERA) will be starting for the Blue Jays and Yovani Gallardo (R, 13 – 11, 3.42 ERA) will take the hill for the Rangers.

My prediction?  Jays in 4 (remember it’s a 5 game series and first team to 3 moves on).

Game time is 3:30 on Fox Sports 1.

Pity the poor Cubs.  They have never won a World Series since 1908, a 106 year drought that is the longest of any North American professional sports club, though they did make an appearance as recently as 1945(!).

That does somewhat understate their ability as they have made the playoffs 5 times in the last 10 years.

They are one of the oldest franchises and until 1908 were called the White Stockings, a name they abandoned that was taken over by the White Sox, Chicago’s Junior League team.  We won’t get to see historic Wrigley Field (yes, the gum guy and 1916) unless they happen to win.

The Pirates are another very old team that’s been somewhat more successful than the Cubs.  They have 5 Championships but are a long way away from their glory days of the 70s.  Their recent record only boasts 3 Wild Card games in the last 10 years.  We’ll be playing in the much, much newer PNC Park tonight because of their superior record (98 – 64 v. 97 – 65).

The Pirates will be sending Gerrit Cole (R, 19 – 8, 2.60 ERA) to the hill.  The Cubs will counter with Jake Arrieta (R, 22 – 6, 1.77 ERA).

Game starts at 8 pm on TBS.

Look, just because Broadway tells you the Yankees have a blood signed pact with the Devil doesn’t make it true.  I assure you it’s simply an informed rumor.

Oh, I have most of the roster sure, but there are always one or two hold outs.  Honest.  Mostly I take care they get dumped on nowhere organizations like the Mariners and the Phillies, even under George my knuckle ball (which is flat out unhittable) would occasionally miss the zone, but that’s why you tip the Umpires well.

What I liked about George is he wasn’t a cheapskate.  He wanted a winning club and paid until he got them.  The only one that compares is the Cardinals (who are actually better since they play real baseball in the Senior League).

I know they’ve been a heart attack all season, their aging ace is in rehab and out of the playoffs, A-Rod is a Choke King arrogant asshole, and they’ve benched Ellsbury for right hander Young, but they’re playing the Astros for goodness sake.  I think they can win this one.  The ‘Stros have been self destructing all September and lost their Division (with a 4 game lead no less) to the ex-Washington Senators.

Not a recipe for success.

Of course they’ll never make it through a real series, even a 5 game one, so get your Yankees rocks off now.  Four games and they can go golfing.

Astros will be starting Dallas Keuchel (L, 20 – 8, 2.48 ERA).  Damn Yankees Masahiro Tanaka (R, 12 – 7, 3.51 ERA).  Game in the Bronx (87 – 75 v. 86 – 76) at 8 pm on ESPN