2017 Baseball Thread

[mirth]

They had a tie in that stretch.

[bayonetbrant]

That somehow manages to not show up in the end of your standings. It's totally weird

[bayonetbrant]

There's also a difference between a winning streak and an unbeaten streak

[Bison]

Sadly the highlight of the Royals season may just be ending the Indians win streak.

[bayonetbrant]

The Indians won 22 games since July

The Browns won 22 games since 2011

[bayonetbrant]

so is Judge going to catch McGwire?

what about Stanton getting to 60?

[MetalDog]

Yes

[bayonetbrant]

Everyone get your playoff predictions in!



I'm going Astros over Dodgers in the World Series...  :D

[bayonetbrant]

here's a question for you looking forward to 2018 –

Todd Helton for Hall of Fame or not?

[mirth]

Dodgers over whichever sacrificial lamb the AL serves up.

[MetalDog]

Yankees over the Dodgers in 6.  Because it's the Yankees.  And the Dodgers.

[bayonetbrant]

Why the Astros' lineup is built to roll through October

The Astros' rare blend of power and contact ability made their lineup a challenge for opposing pitchers to navigate during the regular season, and they're on a roll entering their AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. During a memorable four-day span last week, they outscored the Sox and Texas Rangers by a combined 49-8 to become the first team to win four straight games by nine or more runs since the Detroit Wolverines achieved the feat in 1887.

"This is the way our team is built,'' catcher Brian McCann said. "We've got 12 guys that work counts. We've got 12 guys that swing inside the strike zone. Our lineup flows from top to bottom. We put pressure on you up top, and the guys at the bottom can hurt you as well. There's no letup.''

and also

Houston's 7-8-9 hitters have a collective slash line of .268/.327/.477 and an OPS of .803. For the sake of comparison, the average OPS of a team's No. 3-4-5 hitters this season is .803.

then again...

1998 Astros slash line (not counting the hitting stats of the pitchers) .289/.367/.453
2017 Astros slash line (not counting the hitting stats of the pitchers) .283/.347/.480

The '98 Astros played in a pitchers' park; the '17 Astros in one of the most hitter-friendly parks ever built near sea level.

The '98 Astros were a serious hitting machine, with 5 guys (and one pitcher!) hitting over .300 and another 2 at .289 or better.

The '17 Astros have 4 guys hitting over .300 and Gurriel sitting on .299, and no hitting stats for pitchers b/c they changed leagues (which, given the lack of an 'easy out' in the lineup gives *everyone* some protection).

The '98 Astros were an offensive juggernaut that's completely forgotten b/c they won all of 1 postseason game as the Padres' staff pitched about 28349634578754 levels above where they should have on their way to a World Series loss to the Yankees.

Let's hope 2017 goes better.

[mirth]

Stros are looking good

[bayonetbrant]

Stros are looking good

yep :)

[mirth]

Note to self: Don't cheer for Astros while at bar.