2016 MLB Thread

Also, the Mets rennaissance after that horrendous post-ASB run has been nothing short of amazin'.  It's incredible how much better your pitchers do (even rookies) if you give them some run support.  I'm really hoping they can make it into the postseason.  The worry is if they come up against the Giants (ie Bumgarner) in the Wild Card game it won't last too long!!

micky wrote: I'm game! you'll likely make it. Unless you have another swoon like you had around the allstar break. Admit it... you were worried... they don't call it a curse for anything.. they will rip your heart out. The Cubs will likely make it, but I don't think they'll make it to the W.S. The have a hundred year script to keep to in teasing fans.  However they have a far more important problem.  Don't like their starting pitching...peaked early.. I'm still sticking with the class of the N.L. Top to bottom. Offense, pitching and defense.  The Nats... they roll out multiple aces that have pitched well all season... and the offense.  Doing quite well even with Bryce in the tank.. and he's too good to stay there forever. Forget the N.L. though...  let's talk Orioles.  Should Buck win manager of the year again... I don't know how he does it... talk about poor starting pitching.. but that offense.. and that bullpen.  Secretly hoping for a Nat's -O's Series... that would be the sh*t... Hows that Cub starting pitching doing for you now ? What about that Cub defense?

The good news after last night's AL WC result is we now get to see Texas and Toronto face off.  As we know this can get spicy.  Tonight's WC should be a great game.  I'm reckoning Bumgarner will be the key.  If he is in usual October form I'm afraid the Mets will be out.  Madbum pretty much won the WS series single-handed for the Giants in 2014.

The Cubs have been the most consistent team throughout the regular season but now it's a fresh start for everybody.  The pressure of that 100 year history must weigh heavy....

Who's going to win the whole thing folks?

I'm very disappointed that my Tigers couldn't get it up when it counted.  They were good enough to win it all...but not good enough to beat the Atlanta Braves.  A very frustrating season ending in a very frustrating manner.  But in the same manner as the whole season had gone.  Trailing 5 to 2 in the 7th (8th?) inning the Tigers had the bases loaded, nobody out, and Miguel Cabrera at the plate.  This should translate into the Tigers leading 6 to 5, but instead the mighty Miggy struck out and then J.D. Martinez bounced into a double play.  No runs scored.  Bases loaded and nobody out was the Tigers' bane this year.  This was their number one rally killer all season long.  They rarely scored any runs in this situation, and most of the time when they did it was because the opposing pitcher walked a hitter, through a wild pitch, or hit a batter, or Miggy would ground into a double play to get one run home.  Miggy was 2 for 17 with the bases loaded this year with 5 RBIs.  How in the world can the greatest right handed hitter be that bad in that situation???  The rest of the team wasn't much better. 

And then you have the last game of the year where Justin Verlander gave up 1 run in the 1st inning and somehow you knew that the game was over because he rarely got any run support.  Sure enough the game ended 1 to 0. 

It is hard to feel sorry for the Tigers, as their payroll has made them almost as unlikable as the Yank mes.  If they weren't my home team I would probably be laughing and pointing fingers at how funny it is that they couldn't beat a team like the Cleveland Indians who had less than half of their payroll.  But damn it, they are my home team and I would really like to see them win the World Series again in my life time.  I was 14 when they won the last time in 1984.  It has now been 32 years and I have to begin to wonder if they will be the next Cubs.  Afterall, the Lions haven't won in 59 years and counting. 

Cubs play a great one. Great pitching, great defense and clutch hitting.

Micky, I reckon if Bochy asked him Bumgarner would say he's good to go tonight!! My worry for the Giants is the Cubs are now into the soft white underbelly (always been a big BOC fan ) of the Giants pitching staff - the Shark and Moore are way below the level of Madbum and Cueto. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Pretty much in agreement with the rest of your calls there.

Edited by Roj - October 08 2016 at 10:11

Defense

my rooting interests began and ended with my beloved O's. I'll follow it, but with little interest. Hockey season is right around the corner man.. thus my annual experience of having my heart ripped out.  You should know the feeling... they tease you and tease you.. then fall just short...

Until half their pitching staff... along with several allstars went down for injury late I saw.. as many did.. the Nationals were the most complete team in the majors.. thus were my pick. It was a team that only got better from the one many thought would win 130 games last year before injuries and everyone BUT Harper had career worst years hahah. There are no excuses ... no accounting for injuries.. everyone has them...but talent wise... no team was more stacked than the Nationals. It was a good pick.. will be again next year I suppose.

now going with the next most complete, experienced.. and ohhh.. hottest team left.

Jays to win wS was my pick...

The Jays offense isn't nearly as potent as last year but the starting pitching is much better. The Red Sox are like the Jays of last year with an offense that scares the hell out of me. That final weekend series between the Jays and Red Sox stressed me out so much because no lead by the Jays seemed safe. Almost a Murderer's Row lineup with those Boston hitters. But hey they say good pitching is what wins in the playoffs so I'm pretty excited about Toronto's chances this year. 

Congrats to the Indians. They were clearly the better team

Edited by Jeffro - October 11 2016 at 06:18