MLB Playoffs, who ya got

Is it my imagination? Or does Harold Reynolds talk too much? And TBS' coverage is worse. Ron Darling and Cal Ripken are two of the most boring announcers on the face of the earth. Ripken didn't hit the way he instructs in his videos. So I don't listen to what he says about hitting on tv. I've crossed paths with Ripken a couple of times. He is a gentleman. Good thing the games have been great to overshadow the broadcasting.

 

Then on the post game show are Sheffield and Martinez who can't speak articulate English. I turned it off when Martinez decided to do an explanation in Spanish to make sure he got it right. And Sheffield, keep the "they be" language in your neighborhood. Speak articulately to me.

Agree w Reynolds comments, wish there was a mute just for him. 

also agree  about Cal. Too many major leaguers think they can teach hitting when they did not learn thE way they r teaching. Great guy though. 

Okay, so it sounds like we might have a controversy here.  But first before we go anywhere with this, I want to remind everyone that nothing is better than a retired from broadcasting.... Tim McCarver.   So, we must keep that in perspective and thank the Lord several times a day for that little blessing.

 

So, who you got and why?

 

1) TBS Team of Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling and Cal Ripken

 

2) Fox Team of :  Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci

 

I got TBS team one for two personal reasons.  First, They don't talk as much and I value that tremendously.  Second, Buck and Verducci insult people's intelligence. 

 

Yes, I know I can turn the volume off.  But I miss the crack of the bat, sound of the pitch hitting the mitt, and the crowd.  I'm not willing to do that with these guys.  I was willing to do that with McCarver/Buck.  

Maybe it was all the years of McCarver being on the air. I got to the point where I didn't hear him. His voice doesn't bother me. In like him on his Tim McCarver Show interviews. I don't mind Buck. Verducci is useless. I'm hoping a journalist in the booth is a one year experiment. 

 

The entire TBS team is useless. I wish ESPN had the playoffs. Listening to John Kruk is like being at the game with the guys. I don't care what he knows and doesn't know.

Same here.  It was tough watching the outcome of the last two games.  The O's need to win game 3 otherwise I think they are done.   The Royals are on a roll.

I notice when the camera switches to the booth, Darling and Ripken usually have serious frowns going.  Once, they were both smiling and it looked very forced as if they were told they needed to do so.  Darling has always had that depressing nature about him in the booth.  As much as I admire Ripken, I don't know who the heck thought he would be a good complimentary partner to Darling.  Both too serious and monotone.  Ripken would make a great complimentary guy to an energetic pro commentator but this is a BAD combo.

Darling and Ripken are both monotone in their delivery and nearly puts you to sleep.  I respect Cal, but his brother Billy would be much better in the booth.  I wouldn't mind Harold Reynolds if he didn't constantly interrupt the other two, he obviously likes to hear himself talk.  Joe Buck tries his best Not to be a Homer, but he simply can't help it...and Verducci doesn't belong in the booth period.  I agree with RJM, I'd much rather have the ESPN crew broadcasting with Kruk(ee) as a color-man.

As for the baseball being played on the field, the Kansas City Royals appear to be a team of destiny.  It must have been due to the weekend in March that I did a mini tour of Kauffman Stadium! 

It's funny you bring this up.  People in St Louis are getting tired of him because they think he goes way out of his way to be a homer and it shows.  I dont know if he is that bad, but his absolute love affair with Kershaw last Tuesday was beyond ridiculous.

 

It's all about perspective, I guess.

Last night was awesome.  Glad to see the Cards come back and tie the series.  I love the tactical moves of National League baseball....it just makes it that much more exciting to watch as a true fan of the game.

Four solo HR's by the Cardinals!  Who would have thunk it???

I'll admit that he tries his best not to show it, but listen to his voice fluctuations between a good play by the opponent, and one by the Cards.

As for Kershaw, he deserves every single accolade sent his way, it just so happens that St Louis absolutely owns him in the post season.

KC simply has it going on right now, and the Giants always find a way in a close game.  Some good pitching yesterday all around with the starters. 

 

I wish I had a dollar for everytime I've seen a left handed pitcher field a bunt on third base side only to sling it into right field.  The foot work looked pretty good but I cringe when I see a pitcher drop down like that.  That could be the Cards season right there on that play.  Brutal.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAhoOpRb2aU.   And yes, if the teams were reversed you would have heard Joe Buck scream like a little girl.

 

 

I'm disappointed for the Orioles. KC seems to be the team of destiny. But...I suspect their luck will finally crapout in WS.

Fenway, yes a lefty fielding a bunt is often times a disaster.  I am enjoying these playoffs... the games have been very tight and I've been a Royals fan since their inception... still, it aint over till its over.

As a long-suffering Royals fan (going back to 1975 when I lived across the street from the stadium), this has been a shock. I thought this team was still a year or two away from being a serious contender. This has brought back so many memories. Moustakas's dive into the dugout suite last night immediately brought on flashbacks of Brett silding into the dugout to make a catch.

 

Cal Ripken has been a waste of space. He never offers a comment unless specifically nudged into it. As to Ron Darling, close your eyes and think about James Woods and tell me if it doesn't freak you out.

No one in St. Louis thinks that Joe Buck is pro Cardinal.  Most believe that Harold Reynolds is so anti Cardinal that he waits for opportunities to show the Cardinals in a bad light.  For example his repeated suggestion that the Cardinals steal signs. 

 

I have always been a Cardinal's fan.  However, we have some major problems with Yadi hurt and the bullpen a disaster.  Most Cardinal fans just don't understand Matheny's moves.  I've tried to remove myself from that since obviously I have not managed at that level.  Still, some moves are down right crazy.  Last night most Cardinal fans want to know why Randy Choate otherwise know as Choke (Yes, that is mean but what some call him.) was in the game.  Why does MM insist that Rosenthal is the closer when he is now averaging 5 walks per 9 inning game?  Factor in the offensive woes and Giant's lead in the series and I'd say that the Giants have to be heavily favoured.  Regardless, I love my Cardinals and will watch every minute. I realize how spoiled we are with an organization that has been so fortunate to play well over an extended period of time.  Go Cardinals. 

^^^^^^^^

This!

Not sure why it would. KC matches up well against SF or St. Louis. More so against Frisco. I'm also not sure I'd call it luck. This team when gelled is plenty talented enough. They own a better bullpen than either of those teams, the starting pitching is at least as good, and the offense is more than adequate. One problem I've had is when they try to compare bullpens by looking at era. Useless. If you want the true worth of a bullpen, look only at the pitchers used in tie games and games where ahead. Rolling in ers's for those pitchers that tend to only pitch in garbage time tells you nothing. For the Royals, look no furthrt than Herrera, Davis, and Holland and tell me who has a better bullpen to hold a lead after 6 innings.

Baltimore Sun: Let's Face It, Cal Ripken and Ray Lewis Are Bad TV Analysts

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/en...-20141014-story.html

 

I'm looking forward to the TBS broadcast team being eliminated from the playoffs.

The Royals haven't lost in the post season.

"KC matches up well against SF or St. Louis. More so against Frisco. I'm also not sure I'd call it luck. This team when gelled is plenty talented enough. They own a better bullpen than either of those teams, the starting pitching is at least as good, and the offense is more than adequate."

 

I am not certain the measuring tools which would say the Royals pen is better than the Giants. They have been very good against the Angels and O's for sure, especially Davis.  For the most part, guys in the Giant's pen are the same ones who were there in 2010 and 2012 and have performed in every tough series with the highest pressure. Build in the fact that 3 games against the Cards or Giants won't have the DH and all of a sudden some of those relief pitchers either hit or get replaced and the depth of a bullpen gets challenged.

I certainly understand the "fan" part for the Royals. They are really fun to watch and have talent which applies pressure, sometimes intense pressure.  However, I think it is a bit much to be suggesting how each team matches up at this point.

I don't think it's that early to look at matchups (except using the Giants is a bit premature). I've read from a couple of other sources as well that the Giants bullpen is better. I don't see it. Let's take a look at the numbers only for relievers who are likely to pitch in close games or while protecting a lead and forget about guys who only pitch in garbage time. We'll look at the top four relievers for each team.

 

KC:

 

Holland - 1.44 era and 3 HR's given up in 62.1 innings

Davis - 1.00 era and 0 home runs in 72 innings

Herrera - 1.41 era and 0 home runs in 70 innings

Frasor - 1.53 era and 1 home run in 17.1 innings

 

SF:

 

Machi - 2.58 era and 5 home runs in 66.1 innings

Casilla - 1.70 era and 3 home runs in 58.1 innings

Affeldt - 2.28 era and 1 home run in 55.1 innings

Romo - 3.72 era and 9 home runs in 58 innings

 

Note that that is 18 home runs given up by the SF top bullpen guys in 238 innings and only 4 by their KC counterparts in 222 innings

 

This doesn't include the two rookies, Finnegan for KC and Strickland for SF. They have seen significant postseason action with Finnegan playing a crucial role and Strickland getting rocked.

 

KC played SF three time in July. All AT SF. KC swept, outscoring the Giants 16-6 in those games, beating Bumgarner, Hudson, and Lincecum. In those games, the aforementioned pitchers for KC threw 6.1 innings, gave up ZERO runs, struck out 9 and walked one. The Giants pitchers I mentioned threw 3 innings, gave up 2 runs and and struck out one.

 

I think KC matches up quite well with SF and I think the KC bullpen, when leaving the analysis only to those pitchers actually likely to pitch, is FAR better than the Giants.

There was also some bad analysis. Right now I can't remember if it was the NLCS or ALCS last night, but with runners on first and third the pitcher stepped off the back of the mound, faked to first and then threw to third in an attempt to pick R3. Whoever it was then proceeded to offer his wisdom and explain that the pitcher couldn't have done that same play by faking to third and throwing to first because it had been outlawed. WTH? No one corrected him.

In 2010, the Giants didn't stand a chance per many on this Board at that time in the match up with Texas. Same in 2012 with the Tigers.

From April to mid June, the Giants were the best team in baseball. From Mid June to mid August, including when they got swept at AT&T by the Royals, they were among the worst in baseball.

October is not June or July. Bochy has a way, especially in an NL park, of tilting games both by using the depth of his pen and also in match up and double switch situations.

The Giants were not favored against the Pirates or Nats and are still playing while those fans question managerial decisions. Now the Cards fans are doing the same.

Royals fans have every reason to be excited. 

On the othr hand, if performance in October is measured by the 162 game schedule stats, the Giants would not have 2 world series rings.

Personally, I am not matching anything up except Game 4 today with the Cards. with our starter Vogelsang who was 94-95 in his last start after being 87-89 all season.

I was simply responding to your inquiry as to "I am not certain the measuring tools which would say the Royals pen is better than the Giants."

I'm not syaing that the Royals would beat the Giants or that they are better than the Giants, but I am asserting a statistically backed belief that the Royals bullpen is better tha the Giants. Mainly, my response was to an earlier assertion by a poster that the Royals "luck would run out in the WS."

Its pretty ironic that teams sometimes have not so stellar seasons and then shine in the post season.  Giants and the Cards are known for that.  The O's hitters (especially the bottom of the line up) just seem to have lost steam.  Its just baseball, and its not how you begin but how you end up.  That's the beauty of the game.

 

I know that fans are upset with Matheny and what they call his bonehead moves, but its ironic he has gotten them to the post season several times only after being a manager for just a very short time. Have to also remember that Matheny most likely doesn't make the decisions on his own who makes the roster. As far as Rosenthal, its not Mathenys fault he doesnt have another pitch and that their ace obviously is not himself.  Losing Yadi has hurt, but that only means everyone has to step up. Lefty Freeman (a better choice) was replaced with AJ but he should have made the roster over Choate.  I guess the money guy won out?

All of these teams are evenly matched in skill and talent,  I believe that the best manager will attribute to who wins, but that is JMO.

I remember having a conversation with son a while back,  how the most difficult part of the job is managing the bullpen, and you will not find many managers who can do it with 100% success. Much depends who is "on" that day and who is not. 

 

I stand by what I said in the beginning, the Royals, not necessarily the most talented or experienced likely have the best magic going and that IMO wins games.

 

Either way, all of the games have been really exciting and good for baseball, even though sports talk (unless you live in playoff cities) is all about football.

In the come back against the A's and the sweep of the Angels and wins in this series, I have not seen anything which I would classify as "luck" when it comes to the Royals.

The closest might be the HR's coming a bit unpredictably from Moustakis, but that happens in October sometimes(Pablo's 3HR's off Verlander in 2012.)

Personally, I don't think the Royals have anything to prove to anyone about whether they belong or not and that includes the way they performed in September to get to the playoff game with Oakland.

I gotta pick the Royals. What they're doing, the way they got to this point so far and the way they are winning is crazy. I can't remember seeing a team down 0-3 and say they're playing well or managing well. Once the Yanks are done, so am I but this Royals team is kinda fun to watch. They have to be real pains in the azzes to play right now. Orioles must be pulling all their hairs out of their heads right now.

And to think that once upon a time Ned Yost was fired and some said he couldnt handle the pressure.

I went to the World Series with a team with no names (sung to America's Horse With No Name). Yost isn't such an idiot when he has some talent on the roster. Amazing how that works!

Every team I've pulled for in the post season has lost. I'm available for a fee to root for the other team in the World Series.

That's funny.

Well I kind of predicted a cards/royals Missouri matchup, that would be fun, I think. So root for the giants.

No fee though.

Does anyone remember that cookie that Wainright threw to Jeter in the All-Star game....well the American League eventually won.  Wouldn't it be fitting if the Cardinals beat the Giants and then have to play a best of 7 series with KC having home field advantage  ....just thinking out loud.   

 

Using that logic anyone who wants an I-70 series best root for the Giants.

 

Hats off the Royals.  Their pitching was outstanding.

 

After the Nats lost to the Giants I've been pulling for the Cardinals, but the two best teams just might be the Royals and the Giants.

In the last round I wanted the Nationals to win. I was curious to see how Harper would stand up in the bright lights given all the hype he's always received. But now I am pulling for the Giants. I like Jake Peavy (former Sox). He's a character to watch. I'm wondering if he'll buy a cable car to go with the duck boat for the farm if the Giants win the Series.

 

I don't believe the Royals are one of the best two teams. I believe they are playing better than any other team right now which is what matters. Power pitching (the bullpen) overpowered power hitting.

 

In a significant move today that continues the Dodgers effort to shake the power structure of the National League they hired Andrew Friedman as head of baseball operations. Picture the guy who kept the Rays near the top with a bottomless pit budget.

Most likely, the best two teams have been eliminated early. Many years are like that. In a lot of ways, the format as it was before 1969 did a better job of ensuring the best two teams made it to the World Series. However, not nearly as fun or interesting.

It was easy to cheer for the Cardinals the last few years, as we had home town hero and family friend, Allen Craig.  Also, local pitcher Joe Kelly was on the Redbirds.  Now they're both in Boston, so there's really nobody on the roster I care about.

I'm a Dodgers fan, therefore it's against my "Baseball Religion" to cheer for the Orange & Black Northern California team.  With that said, Bruce Bochy might be the best Manager in baseball, and it's tough not to like Hunter Pence & Buster Posey!

Either way, I knew I'd be rooting for a team in BLUE in the World Series, I just thought it would be a different team!?  That's okay, let's go Royals! #TakeTheCrown 

Congratulations to The Royals for being back after 29 years. Should be a great series if they meet the Giants or the Cardinals.

 

#Throwback Thursday...

 

Infielddad sure has got it right. Bochy is the master of the post season.

Michael Morse, Travis Ishikawa-wow!

Ishikawa is just a great story. Overshadows, tonight at least,  Joe Panik and his  HR and all he has done since being called up...when he was not even on the 40 man.