Raising the Jolly Roger? ... aka: Down the Stretch: NL Style

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

HahnSolo wrote: AND, Helton pulled off a hidden ball trick in the game.

[Zvon]

G-Fafif wrote: Pirate loss on 9/20/2013 about as brutal (from their perspective) as the Pirate loss on 9/20/1973. Except they've got all kinds of fallback playoff spots these days to cushion the blow. But still, Votto's ball didn't bounce off the top of any wall.

Damn, I hope they make it. Who would I root for if they don't?

[Frayed Knot]

Cardinals lost last night so they remain in the lead of the Central and sit 2 games up on the twin WC contenders Pitt & Cincy
The Nats still technically have a shot but with a 'Tragic Number' of 2 they need a whole string of miracles so that the playoff teams in the NL are pretty much set, the only question remaining to be settled is in which order.

- Cards stay at home for the remainder with 3 vs Washington then 3 with the Cubs

- Pitt heads to Wrigley starting tonight before the final shootout with the Reds

- The Reds, of course, warm up for that showdown with 3 against the juggernaut that is your New York Mets

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My preference is for a 3-way tie at the finish, followed by a Pittsburgh shootout victory with the Cardinals going home.

Failing that, if the Cards want to go ahead and lose out that's OK with me too.

The Reds have absolutely slaughtered the Mets in each of their last 4 series. It would be nice to spoil their run too.

[HahnSolo]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Reds have absolutely slaughtered the Mets in each of their last 4 series. It would be nice to spoil their run too.

I thought the Mets played well in Cincinnati last year, with Murph having a monster series. I know they kill us in Citi.

[Edgy MD]

Judging by how teams have looked going up against the Mets, I'd say the Reds and Tigers are the best teams in beisbol.

I don't see how the Tigers don't have like 116 wins. Their bullpen is kinda shallow, and their defense is a trip (I'd bunt on them all day long), but they've sure got the starting-pitching-and-three-run-homer thing down. What an exhausting lineup.

[Gwreck]

Tigers have a +173 run differential, second best in baseball; suggests they've underperformed their expected win-loss by 6 games (should be 97-59 instead of 91-65). I think a lot of that is due to early season bullpen troubles when they had Jose Valverde and others pitching meaningful innings.

[Gwreck]

Cardinals beat Nationals.
Pirates win.
Reds win.

Reds and Pirates clinch playoff spots.

[Frayed Knot]

Reds win on a walk-off
Pirates win on a 9th inning run then a play at the plate for the final out
Cards leading by one in the 9th and employing a closer by committee* to try and close it ... and they do.

Nats eliminated from post-season. So the NL teams are set as far as who. The only question remains in what order.


* Edward Mujica, after a real good season, has apparently been shaky lately and has at least temporarily lost his job.
With a one run lead in the 9th tonight vs the middle of the National's lineup, Matheny went to two different pitchers neither one of which was Mujica.
And the result was a 1-2-3 inning. Be interesting to see if Matheny sticks with the mix and match stuff, especially seeing how it seems almost universal among media types that a closer by committee strategy is destined to failure.

[bmfc1]

Farewell to the "World Series or Bust" Nationals, the team that shutdown their best pitcher because they'd be there next year. They didn't win last year and won't win this year. Too bad, so sad. No Curly W's in October. Enjoy the Redskins, you fair weather fans.

And yes, I'm sorry for Davey.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Pirates win on a 9th inning run then a play at the plate for the final out

The Byrd was the word. I just heard on the ESPN radio update that he tossed out the runner.
And the Bucs will be playing post-season baseball.

Later

[Zvon]

MFS62 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Pirates win on a 9th inning run then a play at the plate for the final out The Byrd was the word. I just heard on the ESPN radio update that he tossed out the runner. And the Bucs will be playing post-season baseball. Later

woohoo!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFS62 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Pirates win on a 9th inning run then a play at the plate for the final out The Byrd was the word. I just heard on the ESPN radio update that he tossed out the runner. And the Bucs will be playing post-season baseball. Later

Uh, not really. There was a runner on first on a drive to RCF. Byrd got to it first but was unable to glove it and it rolled behind him to McCutcheon who alertly got it in quickly 8-3-2. Byrd's goof probably tempted the send. Otherwise they are 1st-and-3rd, 2 out.

[MFS62]

Another reason not to trust what you hear on ESPN Radio.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Reports of the Dodgers urinating in the Diamondbacks pool. Smeriously?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I wonder if Deadspin is on that story.

[Edgy MD]

A little bit.

[Frayed Knot]

Well, shit, if you're going to celebrate clinching the pennant in the outfield pool of an opponent, particularly when that pool belongs to the team you just eliminated, you might as well pee in while you're in there.

[Edgy MD]

Just had a 28 1/2 year flashback to Mattingly himself getting busted for public whizzing.

Unfortunately, looking for that, I had to stumble upon stories of more recent vintage of Mattingly's son and then-wife getting arrested in seperate incidents. What a crappy private life that guy must have.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Top comment on the Deadspin article:

The pool was subsequently banned for 100 games for testing positive for 6 different PEDs

[Frayed Knot]

Cards pitcher (and rookie) Michael Wacha has got the Nats no-hit thru 8 (2 walks).
This is his 9th ML start.

[Frayed Knot]

Lombardozzi to lead it off -- Ball 1, Ball 2, Fouled Off, Ground out to SS

[Frayed Knot]

Denard Span -- Called Strike, Foul Ball, Foul Ball, Ball One, Ball Two, Foul Ball, Ball Three, Call Strike Three

This win, if it comes, wouldn't quite clinch the division for the Cards, but would come close.
Only Mike Scott (as far as I know) has clinched a division for his team with a no-hitter. Against SF IIRC in 1986 of course.

[Zvon]

2 out for Zimmyipps.


[bigpurple:19rjjdal]WHAT![/bigpurple:19rjjdal]

[Frayed Knot]

Ryan Zimmerman -- Infield Hit!!!!!!

[Zvon]

Adams should have NEVER come off the bag.

[Frayed Knot]

And Matheny pulls the kid.
About 115 pitches for the night.

[Frayed Knot]

Zvon wrote: Adams should have NEVER come off the bag.

He doesn't come off the bag he doesn't catch the ball. Nothing he could have done.
Better throw would have had him but that's a tough play.
Tough call for the scorer too.

[Zvon]

I disagree. If Adams stayed on the bag I dont think that ump will call a tie an out there. And I do think he could have reached the throw w/o coming off the bag. Wow. Good job by the kid pitcher.

[Zvon]

Just saw the post game interview with Wacha. You see that? He was so excited. I like that kid.