ILDST 2021: When Eight Become Four

[bmfc1]

The only good thing about this is that Cohen can call Stearns now. Same with Josh Byrnes if LAD loses tonight.

[Frayed Knot]

Such a shame to see a good guy like Hader have to wear the goat horns.

[G-Fafif]

The Braves are repellent, but blandly so when detached from their NL East context.

[Fman99]

Ugh. Stupid Braves. Rooting now against the stupid Dodgers.

[Bob Alpacadaca]

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't know if it's required by law or merely good practices just in case something goes sideways on account of the gambling concerns that all these leagues are now in bed with, but all ads connected with gambling and even the crawls across the bottom of the screen on sports networks giving the latest odds, point spreads, or other fanta-crap stats, are routinely followed by gambling help info.

It's going to get even worse. I've heard commentators -- not the hysterical ones -- say that in the not-so-distant future there will be iPod-like screens at seats in some sections of ballparks where you can bet throughout the game. Not just on the conclusion, but on things like "No runs will be scored in the first inning" type of things. That seems like a dystopian thing, but apparently that's expected to be the next big revenue stream.



What could go wrong?



Remember when Mays and Mantle were barred from the sport just for being greeters at casinos?

[stevejrogers]

=Fman99 post_id=79700 time=1634090651 user_id=86]
Ugh. Stupid Braves. Rooting now against the stupid Dodgers.

[G-Fafif]

SF 109-57 —

LA 109-58 1/2



Game Five to determine the final semi-finalist — lordy!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Wednesday: No Games Scheduled

[Edgy MD]

=stevejrogers post_id=79705 time=1634094798 user_id=57]
=Fman99 post_id=79700 time=1634090651 user_id=86]
Ugh. Stupid Braves. Rooting now against the stupid Dodgers.

[G-Fafif]

This guy oughta know.

[G-Fafif]

Never thought Vin Scully would have to answer for potential recency bias.

[G-Fafif]

An opener as prelude to bringing in your 20-game winner. It's either good to be LA or whoa with the overthinking!

[ashie62]

Knebel throws off the SF right handed bats for an inning or two.



I like it.

[G-Fafif]

The SFGs…



La Stella 2B

Ruf LF

Posey C

Crawford SS

Bryant CF

Yastrzemski LF

Flores 1B

Longoria 3B

Webb P



The LADs…



Betts RF

Seager SS

T. Turner 2B

Smith C

J. Turner 3B

Lux CF

Bellinger 1B

Taylor LF

Knebel P

[Willets Point]

Game 5 of LA vs SF starts at 9pm despite being the only game of the day? I guess they don't want a national audience.

[Fman99]

Yeah that's mad sucky. I'm near tuckered out in all of the 4th inning. Stupid curved planet surface.

[ashie62]

Great game. Tied in the 8th 1-1.



I find myself pulling for the Dodgers, but will root for either for the duration of the post season.

[ashie62]

Wow, Cody Bellinger plates the go ahead in the ninth.



Max Scherzer looms.

[Willets Point]

Feck. 9th inning lead for the MFDs.

[ashie62]

I'm good with either team.



I always loved Sandy Koufax so I have that.

[Willets Point]

Wilmer Flores with a chance for a dramatic finish.

[Willets Point]

Barf.

[ashie62]

DODGERS

[ashie62]

Tough call on the check swing. Wow.

[ashie62]

Wilmer got screwed but its' not like the Giants where challenging Max in any real way.

[G-Fafif]

Wilmer was boned, though it was hard to believe a reprieve would have gotten him anywhere (though that's when Wilmer's traditionally most dangerous).



Swell series. Braves' best chance will be Dodgers letting down after having won what felt like a championship series.

[Fman99]

Yeah just watched the replay. Wilmer got foogered on that call.

[MFS62]

FUCK



Later

[kcmets]

A teams playoff life should not end with such utter buffoonery.

[G-Fafif]

Good tick-tock by former Mets beat writer Andy McCullough, now of The Athletic, on how the Dodgers arrived at their Game Five pitching strategy. (Excerpt here and link below; The Athletic is a subscription operation.)

The Giants were, in the words of a rival evaluator, “an incredible situational baseball team.” The Dodgers had grown to respect that over the course of this season. San Francisco positioned its defenders with precision. Manager Gabe Kapler used his relievers effectively. And the lineup featured a variety of trapdoors that allowed Kapler to gain an extra scintilla of advantage. “They do an extremely good job of maximizing their leverage points,” Prior said. After evening the series in Game 4, and again before flying to San Francisco on Thursday afternoon, the Dodgers wondered how to minimize those moments. Slater brought up the idea of using relievers to begin the game. He had supporting evidence. Knebel had opened games before. He had not pitched in Game 4. He pitched without a notable platoon split, so the Giants could not make an easy counter. His presence also might entice San Francisco to stack right-handed hitters later in the lineup, allowing a right-handed pitcher like Graterol a path to a clean inning. They could also keep Urías away from Giants catcher Buster Posey, who tagged him for a double in Game 2. It looked good on paper. But perhaps you have heard: These games are not played on a Strat-O-Matic board, and the players are human. When the Dodgers officials decided on this plan, they agreed to hit the kill switch if any player raised an objection. Roberts trusted Urías with the assignment. The Dodgers rode Urías' flexibility to a championship in 2020. Inside the Texas bubble, Urías was nominally a starting pitcher. Yet when Roberts needed someone to close the show in Game 7 of both the NLCS and the World Series, he turned to the lefty from Culiacán. The on-field reputation of Urías had only swelled in the subsequent months. He became the only 20-game winner in the majors this season. On several occasions, he expressed gratitude about the Dodgers allowing him to flourish as a starter. Team officials needed his endorsement before moving forward. “He earned the right to pitch in this game,” Prior said. “If he said, ‘No, I want it,' he was going to get it.” On the flight to the Bay Area, Roberts and Prior approached Urías. The 25-year-old listened to the strategy. He agreed to go along with it. He understood the value of stealing outs atop the game and forcing the Giants to empty the bench. Knebel and Graterol were also keen on it. The coaches canvassed a variety of clubhouse leaders. They checked with Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. They met with Treinen and Jansen. They asked Mookie Betts, Justin Turner and Corey Seager. There was no dissent. “When they were on board, it made sense,” Prior said. “Everyone is in it to win it. Let's go.” At that point, the Dodgers officials finalized their approach. The main drawback, they decided, was potential embarrassment. If Urías started the game and pitched poorly, no one would rip the front office. If the openers or Urías stumbled, though, Roberts and Friedman would get blamed for sabotaging a 106-win season by trying to get too cute. “I think that what it does is it opens up for criticism,” Roberts said. “But I think that you can't do a job for fear of failure or potential criticism. I think that you have to do your job given whatever you feel is the best way to win the game.”

https://theathletic.com/2891046/2021/10/15/mccullough-inside-the-dodgers-decision-to-open-their-way-back-to-the-nlcs/https://theathletic.com/2891046/2021/10/15/mccullough-inside-the-dodgers-decision-to-open-their-way-back-to-the-nlcs/