MLB 2014

[Paelos]

Touche, but you're under .500 at home for the first time since what? 2008?

[Ingmar]

Something like that. I think it's just you've got the cause and effect backwards.

[Paelos]

Something like that. I think it's just you've got the cause and effect backwards.

Because they suck then. Also at home.

[Speedy Cerviche]

So how are my June predictions looking in mid-August? Well Toronto's pitching has caught up with them, and they are now fighting for a wild card slot, with almost no chance at the division. I should know better than to bet on hitting over pitching, but oh well. San Francisco has shit the bed completely because they suck at home. So that's another one where they are fighting for a wild card slot. Oakland isn't going anywhere I could have picked them to win that division in early May, and I think they will.

Toronto's pitching hasn't been the biggest problem. It's mediocre, but not a killer, and bullpen has been solid after a very rough start to the season where they blew a lot of games.

The hitting has actually been a problem with Encarnation out, and Lind too (can't hit lefties, but hitting .369 vs righties so starts those games or a big threat off off the bench). Melky and Bautista are great but teams have been pitching around them without the additional meat coming after. Been relying a lot on heroics from guys who are borderline major leaguers.

[Paelos]

Where's our resident Orioles fan? Is he afraid of jinxing things?

[JWIV]

Where's our resident Orioles fan? Is he afraid of jinxing things?

Just a bit. Honestly, I don't even know what to say - it's been a completely crazy season, and the tear this team has been on since July has been absurd. Especially coupled with the AL East deciding to collapse spectacularly.   We haven't had a five game lead in the AL East since 1997.

We've gotten really lucky this week though with injuries - both Hardy and Machado's MRIs turned out to be sprains instead of something much more dangerous and the loss of both of those players would have decimated the Orioles infield defense (which is a large part of their success right now).

[JWIV]

Just to add to this - what I love most about the past couple years of the Orioles (outside of Buck Showalter) is the amount of goofy shit they do.  The pie thing during MASN interviews, Chris Davis fucking with the batting order every game, Tommy Hunter being a complete loon in the bullpen - this is a team that understands that this is a boys game played by men.

[Paelos]

Kinda shocked that Ingmar didn't come in here to discuss how the Giants won the first MLB protest since the 80s.

Pretty hilarious that the Cubs fucked it up that badly.

[Ingmar]

It would be more exciting if we weren't just going to lose in the continued game anyway.  

But yeah, terrible, terrible grounds crew work. It makes me wonder if that franchise is really taking care of their historically significant facility in the way they should be in general.

[HaemishM]

It makes me wonder if that franchise is really taking care of their historically significant facility in the way they should be in general.

If you'd seen their roster earlier in this season, you wouldn't have had to ask that question.   

[Paelos]

It would be more exciting if we weren't just going to lose in the continued game anyway.  

Good crystal ball there.

[Fordel]

Did the Jays win the world series yet?

[Paelos]

Did the Jays win the world series yet?

They may be having one of the worst August months in baseball I've seen in a long time. I mean FFS they are 6-14 on the month.

They were tied in the win column with Baltimore on July 31st and one of the wild cards. Now 8 games back, in third place, and 5 back of the wild card.

In a month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhXjcZdk5QQ

[Fordel]

It's amazing how they keep doing that.

[WayAbvPar]

Awesome. Mariners have a nice road trip, get into the thick of the postseason talk, and then make yet another dogshit journeyman look like Cy goddamned Young the first game back at home. Want to draw crowds? Try not shitting the bed so often against the worst goddamned teams in the league.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Just fail all around from the Jays at this point, bad baseball.

The top of the order is dangerous again with Encarnacion & Lind back, but the bottom of the order regressed to mean after carrying the team with hot bats in July. Just too many bad starts, to many fails from the bullpen, too many running stranded in scoring position in close games all result in that sub . 500 record. They can't say their destiny wasn't in their hands as you pointed out.

Going to Toronto this weekend to catch a couple of games, one last chance to boo Jeter. I see the NY Post getting excited about a Yankees miracle run, hopefully get to witness live some ice water tossed on that.

[Phildo]

Chris Davis was just suspended 25 games for taking Adderall of all things.  He'll miss their first 8 playoff games if they get that far.

I was reeeeally hoping when I read "suspended for amphetamines" that he had been hanging out, taking molly with Wes Welker.

[Ingmar]

wooooooooooooooooo

[Paelos]

The Nationals are garbage. I can say this as a Braves fan, and our shitty team owned them for most of the season.

The Giants should stroll to play the Dodgers in the NL finals.

[Ingmar]

Half right!

[Paelos]

Fucking Cards always win in the NLDS. Why the hell can't the Braves channel that?

Giants v. Cards. I like the Giants based on history. The Cards didn't fare well last time they played them in the NLCS.

[HaemishM]

It's official. I hate both of the National League teams. I can absolutely root for either American League team. So... GO AMERICAN LEAGUE!

[Teleku]

Awww, how can anybody not from LA possibly hate the Giants!


 

[Phildo]

Anyone but the Cardinals, really.  Hunter Pence is pretty cool.

[Paelos]

Baltimore looks like a World Series champ at the plate to me. If they get to the series, I think they win convincingly.

They have better pitching and better hitting than any of the remaining teams. Which probably means they get swept by the Royals because playoff baseball is a fucking crapshoot of all crapshoots.

[Ingmar]

Another Giantsy ending. Someday we'll win on an actual hit again.

[Phildo]

I'm OK with the Royals sweeping the entire playoffs.

[Paelos]

Part 2 of my earlier statement is looking truer. The playoffs make no sense in baseball. Ask the Sabermetrics guys who end up there and the last teams they'd likely tell you would be the Royals and the Cards or Giants.

[Phildo]

When was the last time the World Series was two wild card teams?

[Shannow]

I'm OK with the Royals sweeping the entire playoffs.

I have already reserved my throne on the Royals bandwagon.

[Paelos]

When was the last time the World Series was two wild card teams?

Angels and Giants in 2002.

[Ingmar]

We win despite Paelos invoking the rally monkey. Bumgarner tomorrow - might try to grab a pair of the same-day tickets tomorrow morning...

[Paelos]

We win despite Paelos invoking the rally monkey. Bumgarner tomorrow - might try to grab a pair of the same-day tickets tomorrow morning...

I've been betting on the Giants in every game. It's been easy money.

[WayAbvPar]

Giants are definitely the lesser of two evils here (fuck St Louis with a garden gnome), but I am firmly entrenched on the Royals bandwagon. I rooted for them the last time they were in the World Series too 

Part of it is that the Mariners were neck and neck with them all the way through August and September, so there is a bit of 'Hey, look what could have happened to the Ms' going on.

[Ingmar]

Wow I don't think that could have ended any more obnoxiously for Cardinal fans.