The MLB Playoffs General Game Thread

[Just Regular]

A day after the Dodgers sat Bellinger in an elimination game, the Yankees are doing likewise with Kiner-Falefa, who got 131 regular season starts.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Thanks for nothing Cleveland. Yankees-Cleveland now play a deciding game five Monday night. It will make it all that much sweeter if the Yankees blow this division series at home. 

[Ridgway22]

Will any OH posters be attending Phils at Padres for game 2 of the NLCS? Looking like I'll be there. 

Always curious where OH peeps are.......

[LA2]

17 hours ago, Just Regular said:

A day after the Dodgers sat Bellinger in an elimination game, the Yankees are doing likewise with Kiner-Falefa, who got 131 regular season starts.

Kiner-Falefa had a horrible game at SS the day before and is not much of a hitter.

Yankees continue to have lack of communication between their leftfielders and Josh Donaldson on pop flies: Saturday it was Oswaldo Cabrera, last night Aaron Hicks. Both times led to runs.

[Just Regular]

It probably isn't the biggest stage ever for one of these, but Padres Bat Austin Nola 12.28.1989 vs Phillies Arm Aaron Nola 6.4.1993 is an interesting extra bit in the Manny v. Bryce NLCS showdown.    The brothers together earned 8 WAR this past year (6-2 split).

Like Kyle and Corey Seager, the Nolas look like another case where Little Brother seems to have the bigger talent.   No clue if Austin ever wore "Aaron's Brother" on a Players Weekend.

I guess 3.5 years apart Austin may have been in 12th grade when Aaron was in 9th if the freshman was good enough to make varsity.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

This is cool Cleveland players throwing football to fans in the stand during the rain delay that preceded tonight'a rainout. Maybe one of the Guardians players will get a phone call from the Cleveland Browns to play QB. 

 

[WillyM]

On 10/16/2022 at 10:04 AM, LA2 said:

Saw this one on b&w TV in '65: first career home run of Andy Etchebarren, who was a lot slower than Realmuto, in his 8th career at-bat <https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196509062.shtml>.

I was at that game and saw Etch's home run.  I remember posting a description of the play - it might still be around in the Orioles History forum.

The reason Etch was able to score was that Mickey Mantle, who had a sore arm, was playing left field instead of his usual center field.  Mantle was unable to handle the carom out of the left field corner and had to chase the ball along the warning track as it rolled toward the bullpen gate, 402 feet from the plate.  By the time he finally got to it, all he could do was lob the ball to Tom Tresh, coming over from center field.  And by the time Tresh could get the ball back to the infield, Etchebarren was able to beat the relay to the plate (but just barely). 

 

 

[LA2]

12 hours ago, WillyM said:

I was at that game and saw Etch's home run.  I remember posting a description of the play - it might still be around in the Orioles History forum.

The reason Etch was able to score was that Mickey Mantle, who had a sore arm, was playing left field instead of his usual center field.  Mantle was unable to handle the carom out of the left field corner and had to chase the ball along the warning track as it rolled toward the bullpen gate, 402 feet from the plate.  By the time he finally got to it, all he could do was lob the ball to Tom Tresh, coming over from center field.  And by the time Tresh could get the ball back to the infield, Etchebarren was able to beat the relay to the plate (but just barely). 

Thanks for the great details. I remember him barely beating the throw too. Tom Tresh! He was a versatile player (lots of games at both SS and the OF). Looking up his stats now, I'm surprised to see his very high walk totals--had always assumed he was a free swinging  Bomber.

[Fiver6565]

I still cannot believe that Nestor freaking Cortes is the Yankees second best starter. Making a point to start him on three days rest in game 5 winner take all. That is mind blowing to me

[Fiver6565]

And of course CLE has a guy with an almost 5 ERA making his postseason debut starting. Nice silver platter for the Yanks after that rain delay. 
 

and like clockwork a walk on four pitches to start the Yankee first. 

[Fiver6565]

Aaaaand 3-0 Yanks.  What a crock. Guess I won’t be watching much more of this. Go Astros. 
 

(ew. But still, go Astros)

[Fiver6565]

Civale out after five batters. Four of whom reached. Not sure who else was an option but this was a bad choice. Bieber was ready to go on three days rest (same as Cortes) but they didn’t want to ‘risk it’. What does that even mean?  It’s wok or go home man. At least give it a shot with your CY guy. 

[Just Regular]

Sigh.    

Aaron Civale would be a fine get for the 2023 Orioles but is also kind of a poster child for how on a per-batter basis, backend SP's are basically the LEAST effective of all MLB pitchers.

His value across the 162 is the quantity of okay innings he can give you.

Maybe today will help his trade availability!

[Fiver6565]

Cleveland just not putting their best foot forward today. Again not familiar enough to know who was available but you have to do better than this for pitching in a winner take all. 
 

4-0 now after a Judge homer. 

[NashLumber]

Wife just now:

(note, this is heavy sarcasm on her part)  

"Great, now I'll have to pull for the Astros."

She only hates the Yankees a little more than Houston. 

It took 50 pitches and two pitchers for CLE to get out of the first inning. Blood bath. 

Edited October 18, 2022 by NashLumber