OFFICIAL 2017 MLB THREAD

**AlpiNord** · 11-02-2017, 09:40 AM

Rightly or wrongly, one impression I had was several of the Dodgers automatically took the first pitch vs attacking some very hit-able balls while the Astros seemed to react pitch by pitch.

**FLS** · 11-02-2017, 09:43 AM

I heard that a lot of articles have been traced back to some type of baseball troll farm league (probably Cincinnati) in order to sew discourse.

Also read this morning, The Astros beat the 3 highest paid baseball teams (in order, Boston Red Sox, NY Yanks and then the LA Dodgers) on their way to becoming WS Champs.

Teams list in order of $$ (Astros #18)
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/h...roll-for-2017/

**GeezerSteve** · 11-02-2017, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

OMFG, take the stick out yer ass. I'll say it out loud for you if that's what it takes. THE ASTROS WON THE GAME AND THE SERIES FAIR AND SQUARE. THE CUBS WEREN'T IN THE WS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE GREAT PITCHING AND PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN ONE OF THE TOP FOUR TEAMS IN MLB. Happy now?

Jesus Christ, chill the fuck down son

**The AD** · 11-02-2017, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

By the way, your link blows. Buster Olney sez so...wow....pardon me if I care more about what the actual pitchers have to say.

I'd like to hear MLB say whether or not the balls used in the WS were different than the balls used for the regular season. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the balls were exactly the same and what we were seeing was confirmation bias from the pitchers.

**Viva** · 11-02-2017, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Grange

That is what I thought after they only scored one run in the sixth inning. Darvish did not have a good WS. I'm sure there are a lot of Dodger fans that think he should have been pulled right before Springer came to the plate, but it's hard I find it hard to blame the manager considering how much the bullpen has been used.

The bullpen was fine. Darvish looked like he didn't want to be out there. I was one of the one's screaming for Roberts to pull him before the Springer AB. Kenta would have been ready to go, and he's shown over the past two seasons that he's got a pair. Roberts should have had guys going in the BP after the first inning.

Dodger's biggest problem, as I see it, is a an absolutely total reliance on numbers and fearing injuries to starting pitching. Towards the end of August, when that took that dump, losing 20 or 22, they had made major roster changes, affecting at least five players. And Trading for Darvish gave them seven starting pitchers. Yeah, all that will make for a happy team. At some point, you have to go with what you have, stick with the players who got you that far. This kind of over-analysis just makes your butt pucker when the heats on and you have to be decisive (e.g., pulling Hill early in game two).

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**FLS** · 11-02-2017, 10:03 AM

Correa loses his mind (if this gif messes up your viewing, I'll knock it down)

**dunfree** · 11-02-2017, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by FLS

I heard that a lot of articles have been traced back to some type of baseball troll farm league in order to sew discourse.

Also read this morning, The Astros beat the 3 highest paid baseball teams (in order, Boston Red Sox, NY Yanks and then the LA Dodgers) on their way to becoming WS Champs.

Teams list in order of $$ (Astros #18)
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/h...roll-for-2017/

Not sure how best to account for trades - Justin Verlander is getting $28 million a year - and after his trade to the 'stros was pretty integral to their post season run.

**ex-powderbroker** · 11-02-2017, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Alpinord

Rightly or wrongly, one impression I had was several of the Dodgers automatically took the first pitch vs attacking some very hit-able balls while the Astros seemed to react pitch by pitch.

Man, I thought the same thing when they played against the Yanks. Starting every at bat 0-1 would make things a little bit tougher for the hitter. But the Astros were so locked in, every catch, cut off man. It was pretty epic.

**Supermoon** · 11-02-2017, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by FLS

Correa loses his mind

Don't do it! You're a young man!

**SkiBall** · 11-02-2017, 10:43 AM

LA scored one run in a game 7. Put whatever blame you want to on pitchers, but vs a good hitting team you need to score more than one run. Putting up that 5 spot early definitely put LA on their heels, but being unable to respond for more than one run tells me they don't quite have that champion blood. They have the talent, just need that ice in their veins.
And for gods sake, Bellinger needs to figure out the breaking ball. Felt bad for the kid.

**nutmegchoi** · 11-02-2017, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Phildo_Baggins

Don't do it! You're a young man!

I was thinking the same thing.
He’s only 23.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to get married before 28.
Personally 32-35 is decent age.
Gotta have some fun and experience before you settle down.
Otherwise, curiosity will come and get you later the age.

**half-fast** · 11-02-2017, 11:15 AM

Lots of talk radio this a.m. about how Darvish may have been tipping his pitches

**Viva** · 11-02-2017, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by SkiBall

but being unable to respond for more than one run tells me they don't quite have that champion blood. They have the talent, just need that ice in their veins.

No. It's leadership. Dave Roberts is either complicit, or his hands are tied.

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**SkiBall** · 11-02-2017, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Viva

No. It's leadership. Dave Roberts is either complicit, or his hands are tied.

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From teaching Bellinger to hit a breaking ball?
AJ didn't seem to do a lot of talking in the dugout. Ultimately it comes down to the players (unless you are trying to get a guy to score from third maybe). I'll give you that leadership is influential, but at this point the players gotta execute.
And maybe managing the bullpen. Over-managing? I dunno, I have never played at that level but I have seen the movie.

**FLS** · 11-02-2017, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by half-fast

Lots of talk radio this a.m. about how Darvish may have been tipping his pitches

What does tipping his pitches mean?

**half-fast** · 11-02-2017, 12:11 PM

What I heard was when he was going to throw a fastball, he held his glove in front of his face with no movement from the ball hand, when he was going to throw a breaking ball, there was a lot of movement of the ball hand

**FLS** · 11-02-2017, 12:53 PM

Ahh, gotcha.

**GeezerSteve** · 11-02-2017, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by half-fast

Lots of talk radio this a.m. about how Darvish may have been tipping his pitches

I heard that on FM radio, more specifically NPR, Mike Pesca. It's plausible IVO 'Stros hitters jumping on Darvish's pitches. Ah, sport

**iceman** · 11-02-2017, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by ml242

I just read about that cover and article, I didn't realize when I first saw it here that it was from 2014! That guy Ben Rieter who wrote the article is pretty fuckin smart.

**Supermoon** · 11-02-2017, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

That guy Ben Rieter who wrote the article is pretty smart and fuckin lucky

FIFY

**BmillsSkier** · 11-02-2017, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

I just read about that cover and article, I didn't realize when I first saw it here that it was from 2014! That guy Ben Rieter who wrote the article is pretty fuckin smart.

I remember when that article came out and thought, yeah they just reloaded their entire farm system by burning the major league club down. They’re going to be stacked in 3 years. Well, look at that.