MLB 2022

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Well, it’s probably quite a bit on the late side to be posting this, but better late than never, right? And, there is definitely a lot to talk about/a lot of excitement this time of the year as we start the final month of the season and get ready for the playoffs… and also, bonus points because I figure this is a really good time to post this, as Cleveland is barely clinging on to 1st place in the scuffling AL Central by a single game, after playing really good since the All Star break, Cleveland has fallen into a deep slump, playing by far their worst baseball of the season… only time will tell if they will emerge from this slump before it is too late, but Minnesota and Chicago are breathing down our neck, and despite 3 Wild Card spots now, that is not a likely path for any of the 3 Central contenders… so… as of this moment, I would like to recognize that we are in 1st place and currently a playoff team… this may be the last day this season that I get to say it, so I’m going to put it out there, and hope for the best!

[Knight of Time]

After seeing Toronto sweep both ends of the doubleheader in Baltimore yesterday to get a 4 1/2 game cushion on the Orioles, I think Toronto's odds of making the playoffs got a little better. I highly doubt they'll overtake the Yankees and Rays, but with anything possible these days, it's just a matter of seeing what happens.

On that note, it's looking like the Seattle Mariners are gonna break their 20 year drought.

[Number1ChanseyFan]

I definitely like Toronto’s chances of making the playoffs now. It will be important for them to beat Baltimore tomorrow and take the series… but even though Baltimore gave us fits in our series against them last week, I don’t think they are good enough to hang with Toronto/New York/Tampa Bay yet… too inexperienced, missing a couple of pieces still. Their improvement this year has been surprising though. Toronto doesn’t have to worry much about anyone else, the 3rd wild card is not coming from the Central, we are all far enough behind, and Cleveland/Minnesota/Chicago all have plenty of game against each other… we are only gonna send 1 team to the playoffs this year, and it is probably the one that performs the best in the head to head matchups. We benefit from a quirky 6 game series against the Royals to end the season, so that helps. We are fortunate, because the AL Central is the only place where we would still have a shot at the playoffs.

[Drago]

I really thought the Jays would take a step forward this year, but they remain an inconsistent, albeit exciting, young squad.

Their pitching depth won't get them far in the playoffs, I fear. I'm still thankful that after the peak of the mid 2010s, I didn't have to wait long for this rebuild to pay dividends.

2023's 30-year anniversary of Joe's dinger is going to be something special!

[mr_pikachu]

Well, it’s probably quite a bit on the late side to be posting this, but better late than never, right?

Yeah, I'm the last person who should criticize a "better late than never" post.

It's going to be a curious postseason year, without a doubt. We have long-harangued teams like Cleveland, Toronto, and (probably) Seattle sitting alongside perennial powerhouses, Albert Pujols somehow back in a Cardinals uniform for the first time since I was active on TPM (cue personal shame), he and Mike Trout entering the postseason riding the wake of a pair of historic home run chases, etc., etc.

Truth be told, though, given the sheer number of playoff spots, rather than focusing on the teams or individual players, the biggest point of interest for me is actually the byes. I've been wondering how teams will respond to having such a long time away. Yes, they'll get the chance to reset their rotations, but will there be any rust as a result of breaking the daily rhythm of the game? In other sports leagues (see: the NFL), a first-round bye can be a godsend. In baseball, I genuinely question whether receiving a bye would do more harm than good.

[Number1ChanseyFan]

mr_pika!! How are you?! Amazing to see you, it’s been a long time!!

So… I’m super excited for the start of the playoffs today. Cleveland did an awesome job this year, in a season that supposed to have zero expectations, and it was supposed to be all about seeing what we had in the minor leagues, and who could be a part of the major league team going forward. I was only hoping that they would be competitive and fun to watch, had no idea that they were actually going to win the Central… we totally took control of the division in September though, going 10-2 in our series’ against Minnesota and Chicago, and winning 24 of our last 30 games overall. I’m curious to see how we do in the playoffs, I think we have the potential to surprise, we are playing more old school baseball, and it has paid off in the regular season. We are the hardest team to strike out, not many home runs, but we have a ton of base stealers, we have guys that can beat the shift and aren’t afraid to bunt for a hit. It’s been a really fun season, and they play hard. I know Tampa is going to be a challenge. We did win both regular season series against them, but no game was decided by more than 3 runs. Tampa Bay is always a hard team to get a read on, they are a little similar to Cleveland. The are hard to get a read on though, because they don’t play conventionally and aren’t afraid to try different things too. They are probably going to use their entire roster, especially their pitching staff. I’m thinking that they may be one of those teams that are better to face in a longer series after you have seen everything that they have. On a side note, I am fine not having the first round bye this season. Who knows how it will play out this year or in the following years, but we are hot right now, and sitting for almost a week would not benefit us. We have had enough time to set our pitching for this round… and while our rotation may be off if we make it to play the Yankees, I don’t worry much about it, we don’t quite have the dominant rotation of years past, so it’s not like it would be a huge advantage for us, we can throw a decent pitcher out on any night who will probably give us a chance to win… and yeah, we have the best closer in MLB… sorry Mets

I watched “Major League” last night, so I’m ready to go!!

[Drago]

Jays v Mariners game 1 got me like

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Longest ever postseason scoreless game... we did it!! 1-0 on Oscar Gonzalez's walk off homer in the 15th off our old ace, Corey Kluber. Almost 5 hours of heart pounding white knuckle baseball. Next up, Tuesday in New York!!

[Drago]

...ok when does basketball start

[mr_pikachu]

mr_pika!! How are you?! Amazing to see you, it’s been a long time!!

Too long, Christen. It's great to see you! I'm doing pretty well; how have you been?

I was excited for the playoffs as well. Then the Cardinals' historic collapse in Game 1 happened, and fanbase and players alike still seemed deflated throughout Game 2. Just like that, the Redbirds' season was over, as were the careers of Pujols and Molina. I'm weirdly relieved that both of them got hits in their last plate appearances, as there's something poetic about that, but it's still sad that their magical last ride ended so quickly.

If nothing else, though, I'm glad that Cleveland made it past Tampa Bay. At least my wife's team made it past the Wild Card Series. Hopefully they make a deep run this year!

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Too long, Christen. It's great to see you! I'm doing pretty well; how have you been?

I was excited for the playoffs as well. Then the Cardinals' historic collapse in Game 1 happened, and fanbase and players alike still seemed deflated throughout Game 2. Just like that, the Redbirds' season was over, as were the careers of Pujols and Molina. I'm weirdly relieved that both of them got hits in their last plate appearances, as there's something poetic about that, but it's still sad that their magical last ride ended so quickly.

If nothing else, though, I'm glad that Cleveland made it past Tampa Bay. At least my wife's team made it past the Wild Card Series. Hopefully they make a deep run this year!

I'm doing pretty good, still buried under a mountain of student loan debt, but maybe finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel haha. Survived my bout with covid right after the holidays, ended up getting it anyways despite my best efforts not to. Ohio was a hot mess from December-February.

Sorry that the Cardinals season ended on a disappointing note, especially since it also spelled the end of the careers of Pujols and Molina. I remember going to an Interleague game in Cleveland when St. Louis was in town in Pujols' rookie season... we ended up losing that game thanks to a John Rocker meltdown, I think we kept Pujols under control in the game, but I still remember the buzz over what he was doing at such a young age. Still, sad to see the end of the road come. Philadelphia was surprising in that series, although having 2 good starting pitchers in this new format makes a team very dangerous... and they are giving Atlanta fits now. I remember feeling a little weird in 2016, it was awesome sweeping Boston, but it felt a little weird knowing that we were ending David Ortiz's career in the process.

After a convincing defeat in the ALDS opener, Cleveland responded with an extra inning win, finally able to play their style of small ball, making some contact and running the bases. It was so big to prove that we could win in Yankee Stadium, we just may have a series afterall.

Which team is your wife pulling for? Seeing the playoff field always makes me think about old TPMers that used to post here, I remember SupremeChampion and his Phillies, and TyranitarMaster loving the Braves. Wonder how they are all doing? Guessing SupremeChampion is a little happier right now

[Number1ChanseyFan]

Ugghhh... Game 5 of the ALDS, the dreaded Winner Take All Game tonight, Cleveland's ultimate Achille's heel... 1-7 all time in this situation, including our last 7 in a row, which is how our seasons ended in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2013, 2016, and 2017... If there is one bright spot, our very first time in this situation was 25 years ago, in Yankee Stadium, the first and only Winner Take All that we won.

[Fett One]

I can't believe the Phillies are one win away from the World Series. I honestly didn't think they would make it this far.

I'm probably going to end up jinxing it now but GO PHILLIES!!!!