Frayed Knot

To the surprise on no one, the 65 y/o Joe Maddon joins the org where he spent several pre-managerial decades. ANGELS Joe Maddon2022Oct '19Hired 10/16/19 on a Three-Year Deal ASTROS AJ Hinch 2018 Sep ‘14 Signed a Four year extension in Sept ‘18 ATHLETICS Bob Melvin 2021 Jun ‘11 Two year extension on 10/18 BLUE JAYS Charlie Montoyo 2021 + 2022 Option Oct ‘18 BRAVES Brian Snitker 2020 + Option for 2021 May ‘16 Extension for 2020/2021 on Oct ‘18 BREWERS Craig Counsel 2020 May ‘15 CARDINALS Mike Schildt 2020 7/14/18 Hired as interim, signed extension thru 2020 on 8/28/18 CUBS [CROSSOUT]Joe Maddon[/CROSSOUT] 2019 Oct ‘14 Will Not Return DBACKS Torey Luvello 2019 Nov ‘16 DODGERS Dave Roberts 2022 Nov ‘15 Extension thru 2022 on Dec ‘18 GIANTS [CROSSOUT]Bruce Bochy[/CROSSOUT] 2019 Oct ‘06 Retired - Sep '19 INDIANS Terry Francona 2020 Oct ‘12 MARINERS Scott Servais 2019 + ?? Oct ‘15 Signed multi-year extension in July 2018 MARLINS Don Mattingly 2021 + 2022 Option Nov ‘15 Extension thru 2021/22 in Sep ‘19 METS [CROSSOUT]Mickey Callaway[/CROSSOUT] 2020 + Option for 2021 Oct ‘17 Fired 10/3/19 NATIONALS Dave Martinez 2020 + Option for 2021 Oct ‘17 ORIOLES Brandon Hyde ???? Dec ‘18 PADRES Rod Barajas 2019 9/21/19 Hired as interim replacement for Andy Green - Sep ‘19 PHILLIES Gabe Kapler 2020 Oct ‘17 PIRATES [CROSSOUT]Clint Hurdle[/CROSSOUT] 2021 Nov ‘10 Fired - Sep '19 RANGERS Chris Woodward 2021 + 2022 Option Sep ‘18 RAYS Kevin Cash 2019 Dec ‘14 RED SOX Alex Cora 2020 + Option for 2021 Nov ‘17 REDS David Bell 2021 + 2022 Option Oct ‘18 ROCKIES Bud Black 2022 Nov ‘16 Signed Extension thru 2022 - Feb ‘19 ROYALS [CROSSOUT]Ned Yost[/CROSSOUT] 2019 May ‘10 Retired at end of 2019 TIGERS Ron Gardenhire 2020 Oct ‘17 TWINS Rocco Baldelli ??? Oct ‘18 WHITE SOX Rick Renteria 2019 Oct ‘16 YANKEES Aaron Boone 2020 Dec ‘17

Simply by making the LCS the Nats left the list of MLB teams without at least a 'final four' appearance in the last twenty seasons (or, in their case, Ever!). The number of teams failing to reach an LCS during that time remains at four as taking out the 1999 season shockingly (to some) puts The Braves onto that list. The other three, oddly all from the NL, are the Padres who fell off the list last year as their last NLCS (and WS) appearance was in 1998, the Pirates (1992), and Reds (1995) If the Nats were to win the WS they would become the 13th different champion in the most recent 20 seasons. Either AL team winning will keep it at 12

At least he gave you sufficient notice.

The Washington Nationals ... World Series bound.

=bmfc1 post_id=24486 time=1571186428 user_id=73] How did the Cardinals win a single game this year? This is the worst team we've seen this year and the Mets played in a division with the Marlins. What a bunch of losers.

The Astros have now done something they failed to do in the 2017 ALCS: win a game in the Bronx. That series two years ago was entirely a home win affair with the 'stros winning games 1, 2, 6, & 7 but none of the middle three. Game 4 tomorrow is reportedly in serious danger of being washed out which would push it to Thursday and Game 5 to the scheduled off day on Friday. The series would then go straight on to Games 6 & 7 (if needed of course) in Houston over the weekend with no "travel day" break in between.

Houston turning to some red hot Joe Smith action trying to protect their 4-0 lead in the 8th

13 - the number of runs scored by StL in the first three innings of their final game vs Atlanta 33 - the number of innings in which they've batted since that outburst (6 + 9 + 9 + 9) 2 - the number of runs they've scored during those 33 innings (one of which was unearned) That play by Ozuna was so bad that it actually looked like he waited until he was sure that the pitcher fielded it cleanly ... and only then did he make his move towards 3rd

In the meantime, having only slightly to do with Ozuna's poor play tonight, the rout is on to the point where even the Nats bullpen probably can't blow it. And it's also nearing 2-1/2 hours in and they're not yet through the 6th inning ... so I'm calling it a night.

He's played full seasons, or nearly so, each year of his career [148, 159, 148, 130 games played 2016-19]. And the way the announcers were talking, going back even to the previous series, it's not like he's currently not fielding/throwing, it's that he simply can't do so anymore. Tonight he came in for a sliding catch on a ball that he had a ways to go on but one that was also in the air forever. He never quite got there, though I'm sure in past years he would have, so he went into a slide for it instead only to have it clank off his glove for a two-run double. In a few short years he's gone from good CF'er to a below-par corner guy at an age when he should be in or near his prime. And since I wrote the earlier post he failed to pick up a ball at his feet on the first try ensuring that the runner from 1st could score easily.

Remember when Marcel Ozuna was a good fielder and thrower as well as a good hitter, one who used to bedevil the Mets at various aspects of the game ... What happened to that guy? He's still a decent hitter w/power (though a cut below his best seasons), but he's clearly neither the fielder nor thrower that he used to be. How does that happen, seemingly so drastically, by age 28?

Watched none of this game. Between Houston leaving all of those on, plus it being a MFY game, plus the national broadcasters, and the pace of play, well, let's just say, not really sucking me in. 4:49 was the final time of game which, 11 innings or not, is fucking ridiculous for a game with a total of 5 runs & 13 hits. We're MLB, and we make sure to end prior to One AM!! (even if just barely) Some of that is the extra commercial time, but so was NINE mid-inning pitching changes (5 NYY, 4 HOU). That, in my mind, is the biggest easily fixable culprit. Some of that goes away next year if they go through with the proposed three batter minimum. I'd prefer simply making the changes quicker rather than rule changes which dictate strategy. Eliminating the on-field warmups on top of the bullpen warmups would save probably a minute or more per change (hey, it's something). Last night two different pitchers threw more warmup tosses after they were called in (8) than they did actual pitches: Sabathia faced one batter and threw just 5 pitches, Ryan Pressley threw 3, while four others threw a dozen pitches or less. That's 48 Additional warm-up pitches thrown by six hurlers who then amassed a combined total of 52 actual pitches! Oh, and the mound visit limit seems to have gone out with the bathwater as well. I've heard no mention of it during the playoffs so far and no one seems concerned with running out of them.

Carlos Beltran interested in managing https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-beltran-interested-in-mets-jobjust one team So much for the speculation that his previous issues with the Wilponi would have exactly the opposite effect.

Six innings; 2:39 Imagine where they'd be if this were a high-scoring game?

Geez Houston, ya wanna leave a few more runners on base?!?

The Puma https://nypost.com/2019/10/12/derek-sheltons-biggest-strength-in-mets-managerial-search/discusses Derek Shelton. Now you just have to ignore the fact that screenwriter Ron Shelton (no relation) actually had the longer and better minor league career.

This game would have been a helluva lot more interesting had the Astros, y'know, shown up.

This whole 'hitting' thing doesn't seem to be high on the Cards' to-do list these days. It's not good to be 14 innings in and still have your combined number in the 'H' column still be singular. I see this and I keep wanting to check if deGrom is out on the mound.

If the Nats are going to get solid pitching from Sanchez the cards could be in a heap of trouble in this series. On the other hand, he's been known to wind down the 3rd time through the lineup which means the bullpen, and with Hudson not available (I can't believe a team with post-season aspirations didn't enforce the 'No sex in January' rule) this still could get interesting.

btw, should the Yanx get eliminated in this series, this decade (2010-19) would represent the only one of the last ten with no MFY appearance in a World Series (last appearance/win = 2009) and also the second in the last ten with no MFY WS win (the 1980s saw only their 1981 loss to LAD in six games)

NOV 3 - Gold Gloves NOV 4 - Finalist announced for each award NOV 6 - Wilson Defensive Player Awards* NOV 11 - Rookie of Year NOV 12 - Manager of Year NOV 13 - Cy Young NOV 14 - MVP DEC 9-12 - Winter Meetings JAN 21 - HoF Voting results announced FEB 21 - First Spring Training Games MAR 26 - Opening Day * I have no idea what these are. Are they new or am I going senile (or both)? How do they differ from Gold Gloves? DO they differ from Gold Gloves? Gold Gloves have long been a Rawlings thing, are these just an extra cash grab?

=Gwreck post_id=24230 time=1570766013 user_id=56] Out of the four remaining teams, preferred choices to win the World Series, ranked: 1. Houston 100. St Louis 999. Washington

Last time I looked it was 4-1 Astros. I was listening on radio driving home from work. But the radio announcer (I don't know which one) said something I hadn't heard or read before. He said that a ball hit to left wasn't a home run because the baseballs used in the playoffs are different from those used during thr regular season. Has anyone else heard that? Later https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/ny-mlb-playoffs-dejuiced-ball-home-runs-20191011-qjwryjvuijbxbjejxzpb3zsfie-story.htmlhttps://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/ny-mlb-playoffs-dejuiced-ball-home-runs-20191011-qjwryjvuijbxbjejxzpb3zsfie-story.html

****, I'm not going to be in Flowood until January!

Things sailing along nicely for Houston -- up 4-1, Cole cruising thru 7 with a below average pitch count -- but I'm always wary when you score early in the game and then try to sit on the lead for the remainder of the game; sooner or later you'll regret not adding on. Houston's first four batters of the game scored but they don't have a hit since!