Now that we’re in, do we care who wins the AL West and the wild cards?

[baltfan]

I hope Houston doesn’t make it, but the probably will.  Absent them missing it, I would prefer Seattle miss because they have the best combo of bullpen and starting pitching. 

[Just Regular]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

I don’t want Seattle near the playoffs. 
 

I’m not too worried about Tampa if we have to face them in the playoffs. I think they’ll lose some momentum as they don’t have their chomo shortstop, McClanahan, Siri…they’ll be good but those are three key pieces for them. 

If last weekend had been the ALDS, that Adam Frazier last strike oppo dribbler would have been the season's last strike.    Its interesting to see TB and HOU back to back as along with us its the class of the league.

If Tampa can sweep 2-0 against whoever, their pitching will be reasonably well rested opening the series too.

[eddie83]

If Texas makes it I want them to be the 6 seed unless they win the West. That way two of Seattle/TOR/TB will be gone by division round. Assuming we win division. SEA and TOR have solid rotations. 
 

In 2014 I stayed up and watched that great WC game when KC won. Felt good for them. I swore after that never to root for any team again- not that logically it played any role in who won. I think if the Orioles play anyone but KC they get to the WS in 14 

[Sports Guy]

Want nothing to do with Houston.

[Malike]

Makes no difference to me, any of the teams can get hot or cold and we don't know who that will be.

[Just Regular]

13 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

If Texas makes it I want them to be the 6 seed unless they win the West. That way two of Seattle/TOR/TB will be gone by division round. Assuming we win division. SEA and TOR have solid rotations. 

In 2014 I stayed up and watched that great WC game when KC won. Felt good for them. I swore after that never to root for any team again- not that logically it played any role in who won. I think if the Orioles play anyone but KC they get to the WS in 14 

I remember being happy the Royals knocked off the "Mike Trout juggernaut" too....it even gave BAL HFA for the ALCS.     Buck's team with the stars out fit that Baltimore inferiority complex thing well, and the moment the Buckbot's squad became "on paper favorites", the machine started leaking oil.

[eddie83]

3 minutes ago, Just Regular said:

I remember being happy the Royals knocked off the "Mike Trout juggernaut" too....it even gave BAL HFA for the ALCS.     Buck's team with the stars out fit that Baltimore inferiority complex thing well, and the moment the Buckbot's squad became "on paper favorites", the machine started leaking oil.

Yeah. Flipped underdog role. 

[btdart20]

I don't fear any of them either.  I think Bradish/Grayson is tough a 1-2.  Our BP has chinks in the armor but is still solid.  Our defense and depth allow the team to play up a bit more than on paper.  Our offense has scored the fourth most in the AL.  

 

Standard bearers until proven otherwise:

We've earned this tier during the season.  But I'm not sure where I would objectively put us in this tier though...

Houston - Valdez is a LHP and Verlander.  Plus BP.  Veteran hitters.  Back third is weaker offensively.  Altuve/Bregman/Alvarez/Tucker are the best 1-4 in this bunch IMO.  Third most runs in the AL.

Tampa - Very deep and matchup well offensively.  Plus BP.  Second most runs in the AL but I have to wonder what no Franco has done to the runs per game...  Yet somehow they keep chugging along even without McClanahan, Franco, Springs, Rasmussen, Baz...

 

Biggest worries:

Texas - No deGrom or Scherzer.  Eovaldi and LHP JoMo have been good this year.  The rest are a bit suspect IMO.  Lefty heavy BP (and a few LHP SP options).  Offense is getting healthy, and they've scored the most runs in the AL.  Feels like they could be the toughest of the WC contenders.

Seattle - Like MN with a strong 1-5 rotation and no LHP SPs.  Maybe the best BP.  Some beer league power threats around Julio as well with Suarez and Raleigh.  Anything could happen with them.

 

These just don't have enough unless something changes or the miraculous happens:

Minnesota - Strong 1-5 rotation.  (But the rotation depth is less of an issue in the playoffs.)  Weakest offense IMO.  Royce Lewis is special.  

Toronto - Gausman, Berrios, and LHP Ryu look strong.  Off year for their offense.  Just not enough depth of talent.  I won't shed a tear if they miss the playoffs.  But if they can somehow steal the last WC spot from one of the AL West teams that would help.

[Frobby]

Through 9/20:

TOR 85-67

HOU 85-68

TEX 84-68

SEA 84-68

Couldn’t be much tighter.   

[Malike]

49 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Through 9/20:

TOR 85-67

HOU 85-68

TEX 84-68

SEA 84-68

Couldn’t be much tighter.   

Should make for a high stakes 6 games with TBR and TOR.

[LA2]

If the Orioles keep up their season-long predilection for tight games and comebacks, I'd like to avoid the teams with the best back-end relievers and ability to manufacture late-inning runs.

[Billy F-Face3]

I have severe dislike of the BlueJays, but this next week and a half I'm kind of rooting for them. It helps us win the division, and I think the Orioles have proven this season that they can handle the Blue Jays.

I see alot of people saying they're not afraid of Texas, but Texas had a series in Baltimore where they blew us out a couple times. That offense is really good, and they have some of the biggest names in their starting rotation in all of baseball.

Seattle? I want no part of that pitching staff.

Astros? I think it's been proven this season that we can scrap with them but it will be a slobbernocker. It seems to be a toss up when we play the Astros. 

Tampa Bay? I don't like having to face Civale or Zach Efflin. Glasnow is talented too, and even though we've managed to have a few good games against him, he has the skills to put together a very tough outing for his opponent.

Blue Jays? That might be a fun series, especially if we get to send them home the same way they ended our season's hopes last year. I think Brandon Hyde and Freddi Gonzales would out-manage John Schneider and checkmate him.

Twins? That would be a very exciting series for both teams. If it's anything like we saw during the regular season, it will be close and competitive with all types of highlights, but I think the Orioles has what it takes to win the series against them.

[Jagwar]

I'd like to think that all of the other teams are saying, "Man, I hope I don't have to face the Orioles in the postseason."

"I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with ME." 

[terpoh]

We're in the playoffs, so to me, I'm good with any matchup. All of the teams we could play will be good teams and will present their own problems- just as we will for them.

I would, however, enjoy seeing Toronto not making the playoffs just because I dont like them.

[glenn__davis]

I'm not afraid of any one team more than the other.  It's all a series of coin tosses.

That said, I really dislike Toronto, and the only thing that could really leave a sour taste in my mouth from this amazing season would be to lose a playoff series to them after we dominated them all year.  So for that reason only, I'd prefer for them to be watching from home.