Major League Baseball

[Macca 16,173]

Happy to see the Cubs advance...their fans have suffered as badly as we have.

Yeah, well done to the Cubs - I've always liked the Cardinals organisation and they'd be disappointed with the way it all ended up.

Anyway, it's do or die tomorrow - I fancy the Royals & Blue Jays but both games might go down to the wire.

Cubs curse of the Billy Goat

[Macca 16,173]

Wow, that was one hell of a 7th innings in Toronto!

Could only listen to the radio broadcast but it went on for nearly an hour ... the throwing of bottles & cans marred an enthralling series though - no need for that and someone might have got seriously hurt.

Anyway, the best 2 teams now meet in the ALCS ... starts Saturday 11am AEDT. Should be a ripper.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Wow, that was one hell of a 7th innings in Toronto!

Could only listen to the radio broadcast but it went on for nearly an hour ... the throwing of bottles & cans marred an enthralling series though - no need for that and someone might have got seriously hurt.

Anyway, the best 2 teams now meet in the ALCS ... starts Saturday 11am AEDT. Should be a ripper.

What a game! That goes very close to being the best sporting event I've witnessed. Very disappointed by the way some fans carried on, and some have been arrested and charged for throwing things.

Here are the two defining moments from the game.

Texas' go-ahead run:

I have no issue with the rule and agree that Odor should have been able to score, however I believe that once the umpire calls the play dead it shouldn't count. Granted, he made a mistake, but you can't continue playing once a ball is dead. What sort of precedent does that set? Should players continue playing every time the umpire calls the play dead just in case he's made a mistake?

Bautista's home-run and bat flip (which has caused a lot of controversy in itself):

[Macca 16,173]

Baseball probably needs to get into the 21st century with players having to still suppress their celebratory actions.

In a moment like that with everything on the line, what's the issue? It's one thing "respecting the game" but that bat flip by Bautista seemed like a perfectly natural reaction.

What's he supposed to do? ... trot off all ashen faced?

Anyway, the Royals go 1 up with Toronto not really knowing how to cope with Valquez ... I always feel the 2nd game of a best of 7 series is an all-important one. In this instance either the Royals will go 2 up or it's all square heading back to the road teams venue.

If Toronto can get a win, they'll hold the advantage going into game 3.

As for the other series, one of the Mets or Cubs will be in the World Series and that's good for the sport and great for either team. Don't really have a preference but I suppose the Cubs getting through is the bigger story. Maybe the Mets in 7.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Baseball probably needs to get into the 21st century with players having to still suppress their celebratory actions.

In a moment like that with everything on the line, what's the issue? It's one thing "respecting the game" but that bat flip by Bautista seemed like a perfectly natural reaction.

What's he supposed to do? ... trot off all ashen faced?

Anyway, the Royals go 1 up with Toronto not really knowing how to cope with Valquez ... I always feel the 2nd game of a best of 7 series is an all-important one. In this instance either the Royals will go 2 up or it's all square heading back to the road teams venue.

If Toronto can get a win, they'll hold the advantage going into game 3.

As for the other series, one of the Mets or Cubs will be in the World Series and that's good for the sport and great for either team. Don't really have a preference but I suppose the Cubs getting through is the bigger story. Maybe the Mets in 7.

I absolutely agree. Sports can be very emotional, and I think celebrations like Bautista's make them even more exciting to watch. When the players get excited, the fans do too.

Anyway, KC won game 2 to take a commanding lead yesterday. Poor David Price pitched a gem, but some painful defensive errors in the 7th inning cost the Jays the game. Very important stretch of home games coming up, starting tomorrow.

Mets go up 1-0 in New York, with game 2 happening later this evening. Hope the Cubbies can get on the board and head home with the series on even terms.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

The Cubs really need a win today to get back in the series. They're back in Chicago for the next three, so hopefully they can string a couple of wins together and make it interesting.

The Jays had a good win last night, absolutely clobbering Cueto, who proved that he can't handle the crowd getting into him. I was thrilled to see that he was pitching in the first game in Toronto, as he's struggled on the road in the playoffs previously:

He got pulled from the game last night in the 3rd inning after giving up 8 runs on 4 walks and 6 hits.

The all important game 4 starts in a couple of hours. Jays win and the series is tied, KC wins and they have 3 chances to clinch a World Series berth.

[Macca 16,173]

Everything on the line for the Cubs & Blue Jays tomorrow - going to be tough for Toronto facing Volquez again but I'm hoping both series can be extended just so I can watch live some weekend action.

The Cubs especially will want to avoid a sweep. Was Boston the last team to come from 3 nil down and win a 7 game series? It's a big ask but you never know.

[Adzman 2,085]

Cubbies are cooked. Looking like a Jays v mets world series.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Well, it's the Mets against the Royals for the World Series, starting tomorrow in Kansas City.

New York looked dominant against the Cubs, so I'll pick them in 6.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

First pitch the Royals face is an inside the park home-run. Craziness.

[Macca 16,173]

First pitch the Royals face is an inside the park home-run. Craziness.

Well that went on for a bit ...

We might get more of the same too ... 2 evenly matched teams like this promises at least 6 games you'd reckon. Can't see a 4-1 result considering we're back in New York for the middle 3 games.

Here are the highlights from game 1

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Well that went on for a bit ...

We might get more of the same too ... 2 evenly matched teams like this promises at least 6 games you'd reckon. Can't see a 4-1 result considering we're back in New York for the middle 3 games.

Here are the highlights from game 1

It looks like we're in for a very good series. As long as it's close, I'll be happy. The Royals wouldn't have liked having to use Chris Young for 3 innings last night, but at least they managed to get a win out of it.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

KC were big winners last night to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. They're off to NY for the next three games, where I think the Mets will need to win at least the first two to stand a chance.

[Macca 16,173]

KC were big winners last night to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. They're off to NY for the next three games, where I think the Mets will need to win at least the first two to stand a chance.

Mets on the board ... excellent win too.

The margins & order of winners of all 3 games decided so far are exactly identical to the '86 series won by the Mets.

All the same, it's imperative that New York win game 4 ... falling behind 1-3 would be hard to come back from.

.

Edited October 31, 2015 by Macca

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Mets on the board ... excellent win too.

The margins & order of winners of all 3 games decided so far are exactly identical to the '86 series won by the Mets.

All the same, it's imperative that New York win game 4 ... falling behind 1-3 would be hard to come back from.

.

Up 2-1 in the 5th now. They're looking good, although KC just went to their bullpen, which means that they're unlikely to score any more runs. They'll have to hold off the Royals offence in order to win it. Come on, New York!

[Macca 16,173]

Up 2-1 in the 5th now. They're looking good, although KC just went to their bullpen, which means that they're unlikely to score any more runs. They'll have to hold off the Royals offence in order to win it. Come on, New York!

Yep, watching as well. Early(ish) call on their bullpen though, all the same.

And ... the Mets score!

Edit: that's 2 home runs to Conforto in this game now ... high impact if we don't see a lot of scoring from here on in.

.

Edited November 1, 2015 by Macca

[Macca 16,173]

The Royals rally in the 8th ... that Murphy error was very costly.

Edit: 2 more chances for the Mets to get a win ... against the renowned strength of the Royals bullpen.

.

Edited November 1, 2015 by Macca

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Well, it's now 3-1 for KC, with every game do or die for the Mets. I really hope they can at least make things interesting by winning the next one.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

That's the end of that. Matt Harvey pitched a gem for the Mets and convinced his way into pitching the 9th inning only to be pulled after allowing two base runners, who would eventually score the tying runs. KC was by far the best team in the playoffs and a deserving champion.

[daisycutter 28,485]

A guy has a talking dog. He brings it to a talent scout. "This dog can speak English," he claims to the unimpressed agent. "Okay, Sport," the guys says to the dog, "what’s on the top of a house?" "Roof!" the dog replies. "Oh, come on..." the talent agent responds. "All dogs go ‘roof’." "No, wait," the guy says. He asks the dog "what does sandpaper feel like?" "Rough!" the dog answers. The talent agent gives a condescending blank stare. He is losing his patience. "No, hang on," the guy says. "This one will amaze you. " He turns and asks the dog: "Who, in your opinion, was the greatest baseball player of all time?" "Ruth!" goes the dog. And the talent scout, having seen enough, boots them out of his office onto the street. And the dog turns to the guy and says "Maybe I shoulda said DiMaggio?"

[Macca 16,173]

So it's Cleveland & the Cubs in the World Series ... obviously one team has to win but whichever team wins will break a long drought.  In the case of the Cubs, the curse as well (although apparently Cleveland have their own curse also) 

Cleveland haven't won a world series since 1948 and the Cubs since 1908. 

Starts Wed 11am AEST

Curse of the Billy Goat

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited October 28, 2016 by Macca

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

On 2016-10-24 at 1:18 AM, Macca said:

So it's Cleveland & the Cubs in the World Series ... obviously one team one has to win but whichever team wins will break a long drought.  In the case of the Cubs, the curse as well (although apparently Cleveland have their own curse as well) 

Cleveland haven't won a world series since 1948 and the Cubs since 1908. 

Starts Wed 11am AEST

Curse of the Billy Goat

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Been following it very closely and was devastated when my Blue Jays went down to the Indians, a team that I think we should have beaten. 

Despite Cleveland not having won since 1948, I think that every neutral supporter would have to be on the Cubs bandwagon at the moment given the ridiculous length of their drought. There is also a lot of talk about the inappropriateness of Chief Wahoo and the Indians name and how it would be a travesty if a team with a racist brand like Cleveland's were to win it. 

 

 

[Macca 16,173]

7 hours ago, Good Times Grimes said:

Been following it very closely and was devastated when my Blue Jays went down to the Indians, a team that I think we should have beaten. 

Despite Cleveland not having won since 1948, I think that every neutral supporter would have to be on the Cubs bandwagon at the moment given the ridiculous length of their drought. There is also a lot of talk about the inappropriateness of Chief Wahoo and the Indians name and how it would be a travesty if a team with a racist brand like Cleveland's were to win it.

As is the way, games 3 & 4 are on live here from 11am on Saturday & Sunday.   Cup 'eve' has become a default holiday for many Melbournians so a lot of the 9 to 5 baseball fans here will get to watch game 5 live as well. 

Putting aside your well made points I'm barracking for the Cubs anyway - I'm just not sure they will secure the series at home.  Kluber will be ready to go in game 4 by all accounts and if Cleveland can somehow win game 3, they'll be well set up for the rest of the series. 

Anyway, looking forward to some live baseball on the weekend. 

 

[Macca 16,173]

Going to be tough for the Cubs now ... coming back from a 3-1 deficit has been done before but it's a rare occurrence.

Kluber supreme again and he can pitch in game 7.

[Clintosaurus 6,421]

One more. Just one more.