Blog Archives
Sully Baseball Podcast: Tony Wolters, Requiem For The Cubs and A Great Opening Act – October 3, 2018
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune
As Vin Scully would say, not a bad opening act for the post season. Tony Wolters becomes the hero and demonstrates why baseball is so wonderful in creating unlikely immortals.
Meanwhile Cub fans will take comfort that hurtful losses like this no longer have the baggage of the Cursed Days of the team.
Turning the page in this episode of Sully Baseball.
While we are at it, enjoy the NEW In Memoriam video.
Who Owns October (#WOO) Tallies Updated For October 2, 2018
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Not a bad way to start the playoffs, eh? A 13 inning marathon whose great starting pitching was regulated to footnote as one of the most unlikely of players became an October hero.
I almost gave the WOO to Trevor Story, who got 3 hits and scored the eventual winning run. But honoring Wolters was too great to pass up.
So who owned October?
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO (Who Owns October.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO’S to a worthy player on the losing team.
At the end of the post season, we will see who had the highest WOO total as a pitcher and a hitter.
A complete description of the rules can be found HERE.
From October 2
National League Wild Card Game:
Receiving 1 WOO
Kyle Freeland threw a shutout into the 7th, finishing with 6 2/3 innings, no runs and struck out 6 Cubs. He did not get the decision but the Rockies held on to win 2-1.
Tony Wolters did not start the game but delivered the 2 out 13th inning RBI single that put the Rockies up for good as they topped the Cubs, 2-1.
Receiving 1/2 WOO
Javier Baez smacked a double that tied the Wild Game at 1 in the 8th inning. The Cubs would go on to drop the 2-1 final to Colorado.
Jon Lester kept the damage to a minimum after a 1 run first inning. He settled down struck out 9 Rockies in 6 innings and did not get the decision in the Cubs 2-1 extra inning loss.
Current WOO Totals MLB 2018
Hitters ‘WOO’ MLB 2017,
Tony Wolters – Rockies 1, Javier Baez – Cubs 1/2,
Pitchers ‘WOO’ MLB 2017,
Kyle Freeland – Rockies 1, Jon Lester – Cubs 1/2
Sully Baseball Podcast – Realistic NL Wild Card Anarchy and Choosing NOT to be Miserable – August 24, 2018
Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images North America
There is a realistic scenario for a series of one game, winner take all playoff games this October featuring teams that have a legitimate shot to win the NL Pennant. That is a cool thing.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have a shot to have their best regular season ever, which would be great even if they don’t win the World Series.
Choosing happiness in this episode of Sully Baseball.
While we are at it, enjoy the NEW In Memoriam video.
Sully Baseball Podcast – Wanting AL Anarchy, Appreciating Jered Weaver and Remembering 2014 Orioles – August 22, 2017
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America
I am doing a podcast to save a listener.
@SoxProspects @sullybaseball guys need podcasts, wife has shopping trip planned.Need something to listen to while waiting outside shops! 🙂
— PLD (@pld3009) August 22, 2017
Well, to relieve your boredom, let’s see if we can have an 8 way tie for the AL Wild Card.
Also I give props to the career of Jered Weaver and figure out which Orioles team was the team that should have won.
Killing time on this episode of Sully Baseball.
While we are at it, enjoy the In Memoriam video.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 21, 2016
11 games to go and 3 teams have identical records in the Wild Card Game. Who will win it?
It is an 11 game sample size for a trip to October.
It is anyone’s guess on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jose Fernandez, Matt Boyd, Odubel Herrera, Edwin Encarnacion, Tanner Roard, Edinson Volquez, Yunel Escobar and Asdrubel Cabrera all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball yesterday.
See the updated listing of WOB on MLB Reports
Evan Gattis Hits A Walk-Off Home Run That Could Spark An Astros Playoff Run
For those of you who don’t know, I’m a huge Astros fan. I’m actually in Houston to see the weekend series as I write this article. This is my first time at an Astros’ home game since 2005 and I was not disappointed by the first game of the weekend. I was lucky enough to see by far the best game I’ve ever seen in person last night.
The Astros were down by one going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but that quickly changed. Carlos Correa hit a beautiful opposite field home run to tie the game in the first at bat of the inning. Evan Gattis followed the reigning AL Rookie of the Year with an absolute mammoth walk-off home run. Gattis swung at a pitch at his eye-level and that pitch ended up on the train tracks at Minute Maid Park. You can see the video I recorded of the walk-off home run and other videos posted by the Houston Astros Twitter account below:
SEE THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 4, 2015
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
It is time for the Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball @MLBreports How has Harper not run away with NL batter.
— y – Alex Hume (@AHume92) October 1, 2015
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WOB is not about being fair. It is about how the season unfolds day to day.
Unfairness is part of baseball. Just ask the Cubs and the Pirates, one of whom will be a forgotten Wild Card Team.
Meanwhile I celebrate my wedding anniversary on Episode 1,077 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Christian Yelich, Colby Rasmus, Noah Syndergaard, Paul Goldschmidt, Marco Estrada and Josh Hamilton all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 30, 2015
(AP Photo/Vincent Pugliese)
Rain has caused havoc on the schedule, causing potential chaos in the races… and I love it.
Meanwhile Clayton Kershaw has pitched Los Angeles into the playoffs and the other supposed Los Angeles team is currently in line for a Wild Card. They could win the Division.
It’s a Let’s Play Two Episode 1,073 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
A. J. Pierzynski, Clayton Kershaw, Blake Swihart, Nick Tropeano, Lucas Duda, Eric Hosmer and Tanner Roark all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 20, 2015
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
It is time for the Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball What are the most and least interesting potential playoff match-ups?
— Werner Herzog’s Bear (@wernherzbear) September 18, 2015
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Perhaps I am the wrong person to ask, but I can’t not picture a playoff match up that isn’t at least interesting!
I appreciate ALL match ups in Episode 1,062 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Cole Hamels, Carlos Beltran, Patrick Corbin, Kris Bryant, Erasmo Ramirez, Eric Hosmer, Domingo Santana and Jerad Eickhoff all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – August 3, 2015
Fred Thornhill Associated Press
Talking Wild Card Races and how MY schedule would make it even better.
The season is unfolding in a super dramatic way. I wish the “two months to go” part was in July!
It is a think differently episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Andre Ethier, Stephen Drew, Noah Syndergaard, Martin Perez, Kole Calhoun, Alexi Amarista and Mike Pelfrey all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 1, 2014
The Royals and A’s opened the post season with one of the wildest and craziest and for Oakland fans heartbreaking game in recent years.
Right after the game, I walked out of The Dutch Goose in Menlo Park and recorded my thoughts and emotions. Some negative but a lot more positive.
It is a “Break your heart” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 30, 2014
JILL TOYOSHIBA/THE KANSAS CITY STAR
It is the Post Season!!!! I make my picks for the playoffs.
Meanwhile the Royals or A’s will justify a big trade with a win. Will it be Jon Lester or James Shields who will vindicate their General Manager.
And why should Fox want a Dodgers – A’s World Series?
All that and more on this post season kick off episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 24, 2014
AP
There is a possibility that Derek Jeter‘s final game at Yankee Stadium could get rained out. That is hilarious.
Next year, how about a 30 ballpark tour celebrating Hank Aaron and Willie Mays while they are still with us?
That and Wild Card scenarios on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Justin Turner, Zack Greinke, Nick Markakis, David Price, Matt Holliday, Cole Hamels, Brian McCann and Sonny Gray all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 22, 2014
Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a scary team heading into the post season. Not because of momentum (which is meaningless, especially with a one game playoff) but because of which players are healthy, strong and playing at a high level.
It is a raise the Jolly Roger episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Baseball can adapt not only to the digital age but learn the lessons that the movie industry eventually learned about home video.
Josh Donaldson, Corey Kluber, Matt Kemp, Vance Worley, Michael Saunders, Marlon Byrd, Wily Peralta and yes Sean Doolittle all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – June 4, 2014
The American League is playing to a remarkably level playing field. This could make the trade deadline very interesting and fans very happy.
That’s the topic for today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Henderson Alvarez, Chris Owings, Drew Hutchison, Brandon Moss, Zack Wheeler, Evan Gattis, Adrian Beltre and Anibal Sanchez all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball
Read the rest of this entry
The Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitching Is Not As Strong As It Was In 2012: They Miss James Shields!
The Tampa Bay Rays came into 2013 off of a great 2012 campaign. They finished third in the East but they did end the season with 90 wins. Doing so, they were expected to win the American League East this season. Picking up Wil Myers from the Royals for James Shields was a huge move for them. Was it a mistake now that we look back and the Rays pitching is falling apart without Shields’ 200 innings? Tampa has many teams nipping at their heels for the 2nd Wild Card Spot in New York (2.5 Games back), Baltimore (3.0 Games Back), Cleveland (3.5 Games Back) and the Kansas City Royals are 4.5 Games Back. They must correct their pitching for the final 3 weeks.
Ryan Ritchey (Featured Baseball Columnist): Follow @baseballaddicts
Follow @mlbreportsThe Tampa Bay Rays rely on their pitching and defense more than any aspect of the game. Having great young pitchers is what they live by, and it has worked for their team.
But, it has been the complete opposite in 2013.
Injuries to multiple guys in the rotation has set them off track and now have to catch up to the Red Sox in the division. David Price and Matt Moore are the studs of their staff, but David Price struggled early and also went on the Disabled List along with Moore.
It is going to take a lot for them to win the division, but there is always the Wild Card, and when you are in the playoffs you never know what can happen.
Alex Cobb Hit In Head By Line Drive: Parental Guidance Advised!
The Athletics Have Blasted Their Way Back To The Top Of The AL West Standings, But How Far Can They Go?
The A’s have been hanging around the top of the AL West all season long, and have been blasting their way back to the top. With players like Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, Brandon Moss and Alberto Callaspo leading the way of late, they are poised to make a run for not only the division but maybe the American league Pennant.
By Dan Wanser (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @DanWanser
Follow @mlbreports
The Oakland Athletics have been considered contenders to win the American League West the entire season, but now that the season is coming to an end they are blasting their way to the top in an attempt to overtake the Texas Rangers.
With key players doing their job offensively, Pitchers doing their job well and keeping the team in games, and a pretty easy schedule going down the stretch they have all the components to make a stretch run.
Oakland’s 2012-2013 season Highlights:
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 3, 2013
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, the topic is sitting in the front row. They are good seats, but understand the rules and the etiquette of sitting there.
Mat Latos, Andre Ethier, Erick Aybar and Doug Fister all owned baseball on September 2, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE .
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
The 2013 Nationals Appear Primed to Make a Run at the World Series
Friday October 26th, 2012
Sam Evans: The Washington Nationals had a somewhat disappointing end to their season, losing to St. Louis in five ALDS games. Nonetheless, the Nationals had a tremendous season and should be pleased with where they stand heading into next year. With the NL East teams around Washington getting older and losing talent, there’s no reason why Washington can’t repeat as division champions in 2013. In fact, the Washington Nationals should be favored to make a World Series push in 2013.
Ever since the franchise moved from Montreal in 2005, Washington had yet to have a season over .500 and finish in the top two in the NL East. 2011 was a surprising season in which Washington won ninety-eight games, the most in major league baseball, and won the N.L. East. Their Pythagorean record (96-66) suggests that the Nationals 2012 season was not a fluke. Washington was led by Ian Desmond, rookie Bryce Harper and a tremendous young group of starting pitchers. 2012 wasn’t a fluke and Washington won’t be putting a team on the field in 2013 that is much different. So why can’t they repeat as division champs? Read the rest of this entry
MLB Playoffs: 2012 Division Series Nothing Short Of Amusing – Thanks To A Twist
Sunday October 21st, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: Whether you agree with MLB’s new playoff format of having the team with home field advantage start the series on the road or not, you would be crazy not to agree that it has made the 2012 postseason a bit hectic. Hectic in a good way though.
This year’s Division Series defined chaos. All four series stretched out to Game 5’s, and in the process, teams were forced to use strategic tweaks to gut out wins. From a general perspective, there was no “boring” series. Usually, there is at least one. It’s that series that you just occasionally peek in on to check the score. Nope, not this year. Each series had its own unique taste.
The Tigers and A’s followed the expected pattern in that the home team won all but one game. Detroit jumped out by winning the first two at home, looking as if they would easily take the series and avoid using their Justin Verlander two times in one series. But they did, and he elevated himself as the pressure amounted, tossing a shutout against the A’s in Game 5. Read the rest of this entry
Enough With The Early Round Champagne Celebrations MLB!
Saturday, October.13/2012
This celebration of the Tigers was the final straw to me writing this article. The Tigers should count their lucky stars they won a weak division and that they drew the Athletics in the ALDS. Since when did these excessive celebrations for early round wins of the playoffs begin?
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024
I am 36 years old. In no way would I consider myself 100% a traditionalist when it comes to Major League Baseball. I like the 2 Wild Card Slots, I like the Designated Hitter, as for Interleague play, I wish they had more of it so I could see every team waddle through Seattle every so often. This doesn’t mean that I don’t agree with some ‘old school’ philosophies and certain underwritten rules about the game. One thing that has really set me off in watching the end of the season and the playoffs is the excessive Champagne Celebrations of the clubs once they win any series or clinch any playoff spot? I mean come on fellas, you are celebrating like you have won everything in the game and we are not even into the League Championships Series.
I am out of line in thinking that this isn’t a new trend? I don’t remember this many corks being popped off in previous years. I have no problem with a team celebrating divisional and the World Series crowns with a party. This has been a time-long tradition in the Major Leagues back to the start of the games existence. Where I first starting seeing this epidemic fly was when the Braves clinched a playoff spot and then went hog-wild in their dressing room after the game. I was surprised at their actions but almost dismissed it. I understood that after last years collapse, plus the added pressure of trying to make the playoffs for Chipper’s last chance, that maybe they were just blowing off some steam. If I were a player, I would be happy to be in the playoffs, however If I made it in via Wild Card, I would not carry on with an alcohol bender! I would be made I still lost the division. Read the rest of this entry
Texas Rangers: How They Can Regain Their A.L. Supremacy
Thursday October 11th, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: The Texas Rangers were this year’s 2011 Boston Red Sox for the lack of a better explanation. After retaining the American League West lead and even the best record in the entire American League for the majority of the season, they hit a wall at the wrong time.
The final few days of the 2012 season for Texas was comparable to a blur. Their time from the best team in the A.L. to losing the sudden death Wild Card playoff game to the Orioles happened so fast, that it’s hard to unravel what the heck happened. But the answer is now clear thanks to some time to digest the events.
The Rangers’ wobbly pitching staff and Josh Hamilton’s woes both defensively and offensively can be deemed the two main variables in their collapse. Over the final ten games of the season, the Rangers’ staff as a whole posted a 5.83 ERA. That includes the bullpen corps as well. Texas’s starting rotation was never a dominant one per say. They had 11 different pitchers start a game due to injuries and struggles from several players. With that said, the only three pitchers the were reliable were Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison. Outside of that capable trio, the Rangers had a tough time piecing together anything consistent. Read the rest of this entry
Wild Weekend Of Division Series Brings Plenty Of Surprises
Monday October 8th, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: Now that the division series are into full swing, it’s time to take a look at the status of each of the four series from both leagues.
Surprisingly, the road teams went 6-2, despite the weird playoff format which has the top seed playing two road games before heading home for three.
Here are the results:
American League
Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics
It wasn’t a good weekend for Bay Area teams. The A’s lost a heartbreaker early Sunday morning, and the Giants ended the evening with a loss (more on that later). Read the rest of this entry
ATR: Ask the Reports Answers Your Baseball Questions: Sunday October 7th
Sunday October 7th, 2012
Jonathan Hacohen: The regular season is done. Toast. That’s it. We even finished the one game sudden death Wild Card playoffs. We are now officially in full swing, MLB playoff mode.
It is a bittersweet feeling. I love the playoffs. But it is hard to go without having 12-15 MLB games going every day. And then I shudder to think what life is like when the playoffs are finished. We are less than 3 weeks away from the World Series. Can you believe it? This was an incredible season, with many highs and lows. From all those no-hitters to the countless players undergoing Tommy John surgery. The surprising A’s and Orioles. The disappointing Angels and Phillies. We had quite the year. Valentine Gate. Melky’s suspension. Miggy’s triple crown. Trout’s dominance. Dickey’s greatness. 2012 will go down as one of my favorite baseball seasons of all time.
Before we turn over to your questions, let’s address those Wild Card games. For all the talk of Atlanta’s great season, they are done. One game and over. The St. Louis Cardinals, the defending World Series champs squeaked into the playoffs…and are now heading to the NLDS for a date with the Nationals. Over in the American League, the powerhouse Rangers are done. For a team that led the AL in wins for most of the year and held the AL West crown for almost the entire season, their late season collapse ended in disaster. With a two game lead going into the final season, the A’s sweep in Oakland of the Rangers meant a date at home for Texas with Baltimore. This shows the importance of a division title vs. a wild card spot. While the A’s face the Tigers in a 5-game series, the Rangers had only one chance and blew it. Given the fact that they had enjoyed back-to-back World Series appearances the last two seasons, 2012 will go down as a black mark in Rangers history. It goes to show you: a team can have all the hitting on the planet, but to win- they need pitching. Sure the Rangers hitting cooled off in the 2nd half, but they also did not have enough reliable pitchers to be ready for the playoffs. Now imagine the Rays had a better offense. That’s the type of team that was built to compete in the playoffs. Great, young and healthy pitching is usually the secret to success in today’s game. But without enough hitting, the road was too hard for the Rays.
As a result, teams like the Orioles and the A’s are in, while the Rays and Rangers are out. The teams may not have the best pitching or hitting- but with a steady amount of both, playoff dreams became a reality. What the A’s and Orioles both enjoy is lights-out bullpens. So called experts may call bullpens/relievers/closers as overrated. Looking at the Orioles success in 1-run games and the A’s in extra innings, I would have to disagree. If a team can lock down a game from the 6th inning an on with a lead consistency, that is what we call a dangerous team. I have no idea if the A’s and O’s face-off in the ALCS. If they do, that should be one explosive series. My crystal ball sees the winner of the A’s/Tigers going to the World Series. In the NL, I see it as the Reds all the way. They are just too stacked and consistent. Anything can happen in a short series, but those are my picks for baseball’s biggest showdown of the season. Stay tuned!
Now let’s get to your top questions of the week: Read the rest of this entry
2012 MLB Postseason Preview: Every Pitch Counts
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
- October is the time when there is a quiet current of electricity surrounding baseball. There is an intensity in every second between pitches, and the players really zone in. This is the reason they played 162 games through the regular season. They are all after one thing: A World Championship.
Alex Mednick (Baseball Analyst and Writer):
With the last games of the 2012 regular season being officially completed yesterday I get the same feeling I do every season…it’s a sickening pain in my stomach, that makes me want to hibernate and not wake up until April comes around. For baseball lovers, we are all very familiar with this feeling. We find solace in the fact that with the exception of the month of November, we can still follow baseball transactions all year-long. Furthermore, we cannot get too upset; baseball isn’t really over. In fact, some might argue that it is just beginning!
The boys of summer play all those games in the summer heat for one reason. The grueling 162 game schedule sees many ups and many downs, and all of these challenges are met with a firm resolve: to do whatever it takes to get to the postseason. October is the time when the weather turns cold, and ball players become unshaven warriors duking it out to be the victorious few who have the honor to take a championship ring home this offseason. Read the rest of this entry
N.L. Wild Cards: The Playoff Picture Update
Monday October 1st, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: Unlike the American League wild card situation, the National League race is much simpler. And by that I mean that there’s one spot left to be decided, and just two teams competing for it. A couple of weeks ago this wasn’t the case. The Brewers, Phillies, Pirates, and even the Diamondbacks were all congested and all had a legitimate chance. Now, all of those teams are entirely out of contention. Boring? Yes. But it was fun while it lasted, imagining all of the possible scenarios to tiebreaker games to potential rainouts.
However, the Cardinals and Dodgers are the only two left.
Atlanta: 93-66 –
St.Louis: 86-73 –
Los Angeles: 84-75 2 GB Read the rest of this entry
ATR: Ask the Reports Answers Your Baseball Questions: Yadier for NL MVP, Wild Card Rosters, USA in WBC 2013, Triple Crown for Miggy and Scioscia to Boston?
Sunday September 30th, 2012
Jonathan Hacohen: I am going to channel some Jose Canseco right now. No- I don’t think that I can travel to the future. Or that everyone is out to get me. But I want to send a message to the “haters”. You know who you are. The so-called baseball traditionalists that cry every time our great sport makes any kind of adjustment. Every time there is realignment, relocation, expanded rosters, playoffs…the haters scream to the heavens. They say: leave the game alone! While I love the game the way it is, without a doubt, I still feel the need for improvements. But I take them on case by case basis. The designated hitter? I say abolish the whole thing and go back to pitchers hitting in both leagues. I love the NL style of play, with real in-game decisions and strategies. But maybe that’s just me. While I may want to go back in time when it comes to the DH, I definitely look to the future on many subjects. For interleague play (assuming DH stays), I would play NL rules in AL parks and vice versa. Let’s mix it up! I say let’s increase rosters- up to 28-30 players per team. Poor attendance teams? Relocate. Expand by 2 teams to bring an even 16/16 split between leagues. From there, completely realign into 4 divisions of 4 teams each. And so the possibility of changes in baseball is endless.
Keeping that in mind, I come to a very hotly contested topic in baseball circles these days: the Wild Card. Originally set up as one Wild Card team per league, this year we have expanded to two Wild Card spots per league. Coming up on October 5th, we will see the first ever sudden death one game Wild Card playoffs. Haters simply despise these upcoming games. Is it too much change? Is it unfair to the integrity of the game and the playoffs? We could debate that one for weeks…nay… months…nay… years. But I will tell you this. If you take a look at the MLB standings as they are today, let’s reason the value of the Wild Card spots. In the NL for the last two weeks or so (more), it was a foregone conclusion that the Reds, Giants and Nats were taking the division crowns. Where would that have left the Braves? Cardinals? Dodgers? Brewers? Heck…even the Phillies and Pirates. Having the Wild Cards in place allowed fans for all those cities to remain interested and excited about baseball for weeks while their teams competing for Wild Card positions. No Wild Cards would equal many teams that would have been out of it long ago. Is that good for the game? To have fans in so many cities turned off from the game in August when they know the playoffs aren’t an option? I’m not so sure about that.
In the AL, the Orioles and A’s all still have a chance at division leads. The Angels and Rays still are very much in the playoff hunt. But no Wild Cards….would mean so many of those teams would not have had much of a shot. Unless we see total collapses, most are expecting the A’s and Orioles to face off in the Wild Card game. Considering how both have played, would you want to miss that one? Can you imagine if October came and the Braves, A’s and Orioles were not competing for a playoff position? Me neither. When I think about what we would lose by having so many of these teams going home if the Wild Card spots didn’t exist I shudder. I am not saying we should blow up the game. But before criticizing change just because its different, think about the pros and cons of the move. In this case, I say thumbs up to the extra Wild Card games. If you don’t believe me, check out the games on October 5th. They will be some of the best baseball that you will ever watch. That I guarantee.
Now let’s get to your top questions of the week: Read the rest of this entry
A.L Wild Cards: The Playoff Picture Update
Sunday September 30th, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: The added wild card spot wasn’t a particularly popular move when it was first announced. Now, however, it’s provided some late season drama for teams that probably wouldn’t be in the race without the additional spot. It’s a win-win for all parties involved.
However, everyone can’t jump in on the fun in the American League. Only two teams will get a shot at winning a one game sudden death playoff and moving on to the ALDS.
A.L. Wild Card Standings (as of Sunday morning)
Baltimore: 91-67 –
New York: 91-67 –
Oakland: 90-68 –
L.A. Angels: 87-70 2.5 GB
Tampa Bay: 87-71 3 GB
So, as you can see, the A’s and the Orioles or Yankees would play in a one game do or die if the season ended today. However, nothing is final yet. There are two more teams that stand legitimate chances at taking one of those two spots— the Rays and Angels. Or, the two teams that are expected to make the playoffs.
Let’s breakdown the chances of each team punching their ticket to the postseason: Read the rest of this entry
2012 MLB Playoffs: Predicting All of the Division and Wild Card Champions
Thursday September 20th, 2012
Bernie Olshansky: As the season wraps up, the divisional races become tighter. Some races are close while others are blowouts. Here are the teams that I believe will be playing in October (and their predicted final records).
AL East: New York Yankees 93-69
The Yankees are too good to not win the division. Although Mark Teixeira is injured and Mariano Rivera is not coming back for the rest of the year, the Yankees have enough pieces to make it to the ALDS without having to go through the Wild Card game. The Yankees have the pitching that the Baltimore Orioles lack in C.C. Sabathia. The powerful Yankee offense will be enough to help the team avoid the Wild Card game. Read the rest of this entry
Why Kris Medlen Is The Braves X-Factor For Postseason Success
Wednesday September 19th, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: Ever heard of a pitcher named Kris Medlen? By now, you should have at least come across the name. The Nationals were the most recent victims of Medlen’s dominance, as the unknown starter fanned 13 Nats hitters.
The Braves loss of ace Brandon Beachy was a void that supposedly couldn’t be filled. Medlen has seemingly done the impossible since being thrown into the starting rotation. But, with success comes higher expectations. And yes, going 7-0 with a 0.86 ERA is certainly a successful stint. Meaning, Medlen is the Braves X-factor for late season success, and barring a collapse, aka 2011, he is their X-Factor for a successful postseason run.
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