Just seconds ago Gibbons said "They had the best record in the league--that doesn't just happen by accident."
In this instance, it did kind of happen by accident.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 04:26 (seven years ago) link
only the Twins and A's (two terrible teams) gave up more runs in the AL this year.
That might be on the back end of the rotation mostly? Dyson/Diekman/Bush/Barnette/Claudio looks like a pretty tough bullpen.
― timellison, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 04:30 (seven years ago) link
Bullpen-wise, when you get past those five, you've got a lot of inflated ERAs, too. Five bullpen pitchers can maybe get you through the postseason, though.
― timellison, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 04:32 (seven years ago) link
A great bullpen partly explains winning all those close games. Plus Darvish was injured for part of the year, and starting pitching depth (which the Jays have, more so than the Rangers) doesn't always help in the playoffs when you only need 3-4 good starters.
The Rangers play in a weaker division (47-29 vs AL West) and I still think the Jays are better offensively 1-9.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 04:52 (seven years ago) link
― clemenza, Wednesday, October 5, 2016 12:26 AM (twenty-seven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
It is probably a better mindset to see them as worthy 95 winners. No one wants to look as foolish as the AL opponents of the 2014 Royals.
― Van Horn Street, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 04:56 (seven years ago) link
Even those Royals with their amazing bullpen were 22-25 in one run games. And nobody could have known they'd turn into power hitters in the playoffs.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 05:02 (seven years ago) link
Blue Jays
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 5 October 2016 05:41 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 6 October 2016 00:01 (seven years ago) link
Would have voted Blue Jays.
― Andy K, Thursday, 6 October 2016 00:25 (seven years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuHKpK4UkAA-Uny.jpg:small
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 20:45 (seven years ago) link
Pulling for the Blue Jays in this one.
― earlnash, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:15 (seven years ago) link
hamels hangin some curves
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:33 (seven years ago) link
Jays getting some lucky breaks here!
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:35 (seven years ago) link
slap Cole silly
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:36 (seven years ago) link
ian desmond did not know where that wall was
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:40 (seven years ago) link
This is great.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:41 (seven years ago) link
Beltre missing Donaldson's line drive was a play you expect him to make (it was a rocket though), but most of that inning was Hamels pitching like garbage. He was missing his spots by a foot on every other pitch.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:43 (seven years ago) link
Can't remember the last time the Jays had a big lead early on. I think there might have been such a game mid-September.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:45 (seven years ago) link
feel like the shadow may have affected beltre slightly
that was the 14th bases-loaded triple in playoff history
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:46 (seven years ago) link
that strike three on choo was abominable
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:52 (seven years ago) link
more like hole hamels amirite
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 6 October 2016 21:58 (seven years ago) link
guess they can't all be one-run games
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:01 (seven years ago) link
Why did he even start the 4th good grief he had nothing
― seafaring funnyman Jacques Custos (rip van wanko), Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:02 (seven years ago) link
@AndrewSimonMLBLast pitcher to give up 7+ runs in no more than 3.1 IP in a home playoff start: Angels' Jarrod Washburn, 2004 ALDS G1 vs. Boston.
― mookieproof, Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:05 (seven years ago) link
Here come the Texas Rangers.
― Andy K, Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:35 (seven years ago) link
Is TBS' homerism for the Rangers getting on anyone else's nerves, or is it just me?
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:38 (seven years ago) link
Are the Rangers aware of the score?
― Andy K, Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:41 (seven years ago) link
Not challenging that tag proves it
― seafaring funnyman Jacques Custos (rip van wanko), Thursday, 6 October 2016 22:43 (seven years ago) link
A Marco: the stat formerly known as a Maddux.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:13 (seven years ago) link
how many times as it been done in the playoffs?
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:13 (seven years ago) link
No Jays pitcher has thrown a complete game this season.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:16 (seven years ago) link
https://sportslistoftheday.com/2013/09/18/mlb-pitchers-with-the-most-shutouts-in-postseason-history-and-every-playoff-shutout-ever/
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:19 (seven years ago) link
That's a full list of shutouts up till 2013, VHS--have fun, please report back!
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:21 (seven years ago) link
Are they going to drill Bautista tomorrow? As stupid as that is, I wouldn't be shocked.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:22 (seven years ago) link
http://groundballwitheyes.blogspot.ca/2012/04/maddux.html
As I said, there are only full regular season pitch count records since 1988, so that's the starting point for things here, but pitch counts were kept in the playoffs a few years earlier than that. For the years in which we have official counts, there has been just one postseason Maddux though, thrown by Bret Saberhagen in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series, when he shut the Cardinals out on just 92 pitches and won himself World Series MVP honors. (Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series reportedly took just 97 pitches.)
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:24 (seven years ago) link
Estrada at 95 pitches, unlikely but possible.
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:28 (seven years ago) link
That's a fantastic page you dug up there...Zane Smith and Bob Tewksbury #2 and #3 on the list--ahead of a Hall of Famer and a guy who's headed there, behind the guy who gave the stat its name.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:30 (seven years ago) link
Aargh, really wanted to see him get the shutout.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:31 (seven years ago) link
They were one blowout loss away from being outscored on the season, and only the Twins and A's (two terrible teams) gave up more runs in the AL this year. The only thing separating them from fringe wild card contenders like the Yankees is their all time best record in one run games.
So, after 163 games, the Rangers have won 95 games and been outscored on the season. They're a .500 team that got lucky.
The Rangers were supposed to have a starting pitching edge, but their "ace" (who was terrible the last month of the season) just got shelled, and now we've got Happ + Sanchez vs Darvish and whoever they dredge up for game 3 (starter TBD). I'll take those matchups.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:42 (seven years ago) link
Can you be that lucky over 163 games? I know clutchness is a dirty around these parts but surely it's a mix of both. It can't be all the one or the other.
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:46 (seven years ago) link
It can be partly a mix of both (e.g. having a strong bullpen to protect leads) but the dominant factor is luck.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:51 (seven years ago) link
And the Rangers' bullpen, by today's standards, seems good but nothing particularly special.
― clemenza, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:54 (seven years ago) link
the rangers would like cole hamels to be like jon lester but he's basically cj wilson.
― nomar, Thursday, 6 October 2016 23:57 (seven years ago) link
he's like jon lester with an extra 10 WAR you mean?
― mookieproof, Friday, 7 October 2016 00:02 (seven years ago) link
ace my balls and WAR be damned that bastard killed my fantasy staff ~
― nomar, Friday, 7 October 2016 00:05 (seven years ago) link
Rangers now have a negative run differential on the season 0_o
― seafaring funnyman Jacques Custos (rip van wanko), Friday, 7 October 2016 00:29 (seven years ago) link
They didn't win the division just by beating up on the Angels and A's. They were 12-7 against the Mariners and 15-4 against the Astros. They won the season series against the Tigers and Indians, tied the Red Sox and Blue Jays. They were 6-1 against Kansas City. They were 13-7 in interleague play.
― timellison, Friday, 7 October 2016 00:33 (seven years ago) link
Think they lost the season series to the Jays by a game, but were outscored by plenty.
― clemenza, Friday, 7 October 2016 00:41 (seven years ago) link
Jays beat them 3-1, 4-3, 12-2, and 5-0; Texas won three one-run games, 2-1, 6-5, and 7-6.
― clemenza, Friday, 7 October 2016 00:44 (seven years ago) link
Right, sorry. They were 4-3 against Baltimore, though, too.
― timellison, Friday, 7 October 2016 03:29 (seven years ago) link
Oh dear.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 7 October 2016 20:48 (seven years ago) link
He'll need an X-ray as a precaution at least, and hopefully that's all there is.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 7 October 2016 20:58 (seven years ago) link
Had to listen to the last two innings in the car--nerve-wracking. It seemed like a game they were destined to lose the way the offense shut down after the big inning.
Go Indians (even though I'm now worried we're going to catch them during the year that makes up for 50 years of a city's sports misery).
― clemenza, Friday, 7 October 2016 21:22 (seven years ago) link
Liriano out a week, replaced on roster by Danny Barnes
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 9 October 2016 15:22 (seven years ago) link
He can return for the ALDS I think.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 9 October 2016 21:14 (seven years ago) link
yep
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 9 October 2016 23:14 (seven years ago) link
When Edwin's hot, he's unbelievable.
― clemenza, Sunday, 9 October 2016 23:55 (seven years ago) link
You just know this reliever for Texas with the porno stash and party in the back hair has a bitchin' ride.
― earlnash, Monday, 10 October 2016 00:32 (seven years ago) link
Oh, those bases on balls.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 00:50 (seven years ago) link
Sanchez ain't right. This is looking like his last inning, which means Gibbons will try to squeeze another one out of him.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 00:52 (seven years ago) link
See I knew Sanchez was getting stronger as the game went on. Who wanted to pull this guy?
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:09 (seven years ago) link
swinging at first pitch might be dubious there
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 01:22 (seven years ago) link
That was brutal.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:23 (seven years ago) link
we're looking at two of those rare postseason teams that don't have bullpens, aren't we?
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 01:36 (seven years ago) link
Why wasn't there a lefty to face Moreland???
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:36 (seven years ago) link
When Sanchez walked Odor (who never walks) they HAD to pull him.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:38 (seven years ago) link
Pillar finally missed one. (Would've been a great catch, obviously.)
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:41 (seven years ago) link
not quite the vibe of the 15-14 (?) WS game vs the Phillies, but gettin there
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 01:43 (seven years ago) link
Barney rescued by that WP
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 01:53 (seven years ago) link
Mazzara made a running catch, Pillar just missed making the catch ... game of inches, if it goes the other way, that's a four run swing there.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 01:55 (seven years ago) link
i'm glad they don't play with 40-man, 18-pitcher rosters here
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 02:16 (seven years ago) link
Thx to the Rangers for swinging at everything vs Osuna and keeping his pitch count low so he can pitch the 10th if we don't score here.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:35 (seven years ago) link
welp
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 02:40 (seven years ago) link
Bush vs Osuna is a pretty good showdown so far
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:48 (seven years ago) link
No. Seven innings no earned runs for TX so far 2day.
― timellison, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:50 (seven years ago) link
The Jays need to win it here because I have no clue who pitches the 11th if they don't.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:51 (seven years ago) link
Little too much admirin' there, Josh.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:52 (seven years ago) link
Pretend the ball is Matt Bush.
― Andy K, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:52 (seven years ago) link
One inning in 16 with earned runs so far in the series.
― timellison, Monday, 10 October 2016 02:53 (seven years ago) link
Oh!
― timellison, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:00 (seven years ago) link
Aw, poor Matt Bush.
― Andy K, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:01 (seven years ago) link
― timellison, Sunday, October 9, 2016 10:53 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i have no idea what this is referring to
― qualx, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:01 (seven years ago) link
TX relievers had given up earned runs in one inning of the sixteen they had pitched up until that inning.
― timellison, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:02 (seven years ago) link
Seventeen now with the error.
― timellison, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:03 (seven years ago) link
The mad dash.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:03 (seven years ago) link
wow nice finish
runner slid at bag, entirely legit afaik
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Monday, 10 October 2016 03:04 (seven years ago) link
Hey, I scooped the interviewer.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:05 (seven years ago) link
Putting the ball in play!!!
I can't believe they left Matt Bush out there to dry. Where was Dyson? Bush was obviously overthrowing.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:06 (seven years ago) link
What an exciting ending. Bush was so close to escaping too.
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:06 (seven years ago) link
oic xp
i hate the blue jays but fuck if i'll ever feel bad for matt bush
may the cubs destroy the american league, just completely end it, i don't even care about how stupid it is to still not have the DH anymore
― qualx, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:07 (seven years ago) link
Would have loved a Dyson-Bautista rematch, but this is A-OK.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:07 (seven years ago) link
Hadn't even thought about the beauty of it ending on a botched DP attempt by Odor.
― clemenza, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:25 (seven years ago) link
That, and a one run loss for the Rangers.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 10 October 2016 03:41 (seven years ago) link
and Bush taking the L.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 10 October 2016 04:31 (seven years ago) link