The MLB Thread

[Jenson]

Go Nats

[Trumo]

Red Sox had been battered 8-2 in each of the opening games of the best-of-5 ALDS against the Astros. They've given themselves a bit of hope by taking game 3 by a score of 10-3 at Fenway. Game 4 at Fenway is in a couple of days. They need their starting pitchers to show up, mind you.

 

So often in sport, a team can be galvanised by a tragic event on their doorstep. I think the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl not long after Katrina, and the Red Sox rode the wave of 'Boston Strong' sentiment following the marathon bombing, to claim the World Series that year. Given what's happened in and around Houston with Hurricane Harvey, this could end up being the Astros' year.

[Trumo]

Astros win game 4 at Fenway, 5-4 to clinch the ALDS 3-1. They'll play either Cleveland or the Yankees in the ALCS. Astros have been much better than the Red Sox in this series, and finished with the stronger record in the regular season so this win isn't really a shock. They scored 24 runs in these 4 games, conceding 18. The Red Sox pitching took a bit of a pasting as the Astros got at least 12 base hits in each game. Keep giving up base hit and runs early on like the Red Sox did, and the game becomes a struggle.

 

There's been a lot of internet gossip that Red Sox manager John Farrell's job is on the line, with some fans of the opinion that he's taken the team as far as he can. He won the World Series with them in 2013 in his first year, and he's reached the post-season in each of the last 2 years after topping the AL East. The previous 2 years saw them finish bottom of the AL East. One thing to note is that despite topping their division in 2016 and 2017, they've closed out the regular season on a poor run of form - a problem that's carried into the post-season with immediate exits in the ALDS. Closing out the season poorly was an issue in their 2 poor seasons in 2014 and 2015 as well. It looks like the team fizzling out at the end of the regular season is something Farrell has failed to address because even in their World Series winning year, they took their foot off the gas having clinched their post-season berth much earlier.

 

The team collapsing in September 2011 is what did for Terry Francona in the end. He's bounced back with Cleveland since then (they were World Series runners up last year), and they could clinch a place in the ALCS tonight if they beat the Yankees.

[Trumo]

Go Tribe.

 

Sorry mate but they're gone. Yankees won the ALDS 3-2 after clawing their way back from 2-0 down. They'll go on to face the Astros in the ALCS, with the winner of that heading to the World Series. In the NLDS, the Cubs and Nationals will go into a deciding 5th game, with the winner facing the LA Dodgers in the NLCS.

[Trumo]

There's been a lot of internet gossip that Red Sox manager John Farrell's job is on the line, with some fans of the opinion that he's taken the team as far as he can. He won the World Series with them in 2013 in his first year, and he's reached the post-season in each of the last 2 years after topping the AL East. The previous 2 years saw them finish bottom of the AL East. One thing to note is that despite topping their division in 2016 and 2017, they've closed out the regular season on a poor run of form - a problem that's carried into the post-season with immediate exits in the ALDS. Closing out the season poorly was an issue in their 2 poor seasons in 2014 and 2015 as well. It looks like the team fizzling out at the end of the regular season is something Farrell has failed to address because even in their World Series winning year, they took their foot off the gas having clinched their post-season berth much earlier.

 

Farrell's gone.

[Carvalho Diablo]

Sorry mate but they're gone. Yankees won the ALDS 3-2 after clawing their way back from 2-0 down. They'll go on to face the Astros in the ALCS, with the winner of that heading to the World Series. In the NLDS, the Cubs and Nationals will go into a deciding 5th game, with the winner facing the LA Dodgers in the NLCS.

Haroldis Chapman, Yankee wanger is 1000% a roid head. Sweats like a fucking racehorse the cheating fucking bastard.

[Trumo]

Cubs beat the Nationals 9-8 to clinch the NLDS, so the Championship Series' line-ups are now known.

 

American League Championship Series: Houston Astros vs New York Yankees

National League Championship Series: LA Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

 

The winners of these best-of-7 series' will go on to contest the World Series, and it's a tough one to call I think. Dodgers have got the best overall record in the regular season and swatted aside the Arizona Diamondbacks in their NLDS. Cubs are the defending World Series champions. Astros have found some excellent form in the last couple of months or so, and the Yankees have developed a habit of digging in.

[3 Stacks]

It's the Dodgers' year I think. That Darvish acquisition was huge. They finally have another top starter after Kershaw.

[Trumo]

It's the Dodgers' year I think.

 

They are 3-0 up in the NLCS. Cubs need a miracle now. In the ALCS, the Astros and Yankees are level at 2-2.

[Trumo]

The Dodgers are in the World Series after thrashing Cubs 4-1 in the NLCS. They won the last game 11-1 in Chicago. Yankees are leading the Astros 3-2 in the ALCS so are one game away from the World Series themselves.

[Trumo]

The ALCS will go into a deciding game after the Astros beat the Yankees 7-1 last night (this morning for us on this side of the pond) to level matters at 3-3.

[Carvalho Diablo]

Do the Yankees have a rep as drug cheats / roid heads?

[Trumo]

The Astros won game 7 4-0 against the Yankees, and are now going to face the Dodgers in the World Series.

[Trumo]

The World Series is currently tied at 2-2. Both sides have managed an away win.

[Allan]

The World Series is currently tied at 2-2. Both sides have managed an away win.

 

Kershaw vs Keuchel in game 5 tonight.

[Trumo]

Kershaw vs Keuchel in game 5 tonight.

 

I think most people would like to see Kershaw vs Verlander but you can understand why the managers wouldn't go for it.

[Allan]

I think most people would like to see Kershaw vs Verlander but you can understand why the managers wouldn't go for it.

 

Kershaw vs Verlander in game 7 would be the ultimate pitching contest.

 

Rich Hill vs Verlander in game 6 will be good. Hill is a very underrated pitcher.

 

Darvish vs McCullers penciled in for game 7 if the rotations stay as they are. Though I'd imagine that every pitcher, other than Hill & Verlander, would be available out of the bullpen if needed, so we could possibly see Kershaw take the ball in the middle/late innings to get to Jansen.

[Nunavut Patrick]

Cuban lad who did the slant eye gesture escaped a ban for the WS.

 

Got a five game ban to start next season

[Trumo]

What a game 5! The Astros won it 13-12 with a walk-off single in the 10th inning and now lead the World Series 3-2. Next game is on Wednesday morning back at Dodgers Stadium, with the Astros one win away from claiming a maiden title.

[TheHowieLama]

Do the Yankees have a rep as drug cheats / roid heads?

[Trumo]

This is going down to a game 7 decider after the Dodgers won 3-1 last night.

[Trumo]

The Houston Astros are World Series champions! They beat the Dodgers in the deciding game 5-1 to win their maiden title. Just like in 2013 when the Red Sox gained extra motivation and their fanbase was galvanised following the Boston Marathon bombing, the Astros have gained extra motivation following the extensive damage to Houston following the recent hurricane.

[Trumo]

The cover of Sports Illustrated from June 2014, tipping the Astros to win the World Series in 2017 and George Springer for stardom. He was announced as the World Series MVP, scoring a home run in 4 straight World Series games.

 

[Bjornebye]

The Houston Astros are World Series champions! They beat the Dodgers in the deciding game 5-1 to win their maiden title. Just like in 2013 when the Red Sox gained extra motivation and their fanbase was galvanised following the Boston Marathon bombing, the Astros have gained extra motivation following the extensive damage to Houston following the recent hurricane.

 

 

The Saints won the Super Bowl not long after New Orleans was flooded too didn't they? 

[Lee909]

The Saints won the Super Bowl not long after New Orleans was flooded too didn't they? 

 

4 years later