So, tonight is actually the fifth time in the homerphobic club’s history that a Royal has gone deep at least twice in a postseason game. Their record in those games? 2-3. George Brett in the '85 LCS and Willie Aikens in Game 4 of the '80 World series were the two wins. Tonight, Aikens in game 1 of the '80 WS, and Brett’s 3 homer game in the 1978 ALCS were the losses.
The Royals
Four games in the 2015 postseason thus far, and four losses for the home team. Maybe it’s not so bad that the Cubs have no home-field advantage despite winning 97 games!
OK, so here’s the deal.
I’m done with this thread for a bit, mostly because I don’t trust my own irrationality and emotional fragility when it comes to my baseball team and interacting with others.
Luck to all, I suppose.
See you on the other side!
mtkafka
1584
Spoken like a TRUE FAN! I am trying not to get worked up … but I am anyway… Cardinals Cubs postseason 5 game series… wtf… and I know both sides of fandom can be cruel…even the Cardinals fans don’t deserve the ridicule. I’ll admit the AVERAGE cardinal fan knows more baseball and LOVES it more than most fans. Not trying to prove or disprove anything, but just my own experience. White Sox fans otoh… shit I go to Cellular more than half there fandom! Abd I’m a Cub fan!
Oh no…
Oghier
1585
You really have to manage your expectations as a fan, all the more so if your team is seen as the favorite. I don’t expect the Cardinals to win the WS. I don’t even expect them to beat the Cubs – the small bears have been playing better baseball for a month, and they don’t have half their starting position players limited by significant injuries. Holliday can’t run. Grichuk can’t throw. Yadi can’t swing a bat. That’s too many holes to hide.
But the playoffs are small sample size heaven, right? Anything can happen. The best Cardinals team of my lifetime (2004) got swept by the Red Sox. The 2006 team, sporting 83 regular-season wins, won the series. A rookie with a 5+ ERA (Anthony Reyes) can outpitch Justin Verlander in game 1. You never know.
So, I don’t expect my team to win. I just expect them to be in the mix every year, so they have a shot.
Ugh, I liked Alberto earlier in the season when he replaced Beltre but today’s game and then yesterday is like a deer in headlights. He had a barehanded play yesterday that he botched and then another one today, both resulting in runs.
— Alan
At least the Jays are determined to make this a game. It was looking pretty bad for them at the start.
Yeah they are definitely in it. And Stroman has settled a bit. (And I do have to say after I said that Alberto managed to turn a DP so that was good.)
Also today: Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon was fired.
— Alan
With the lead now, even! First one in the series.
Aw, too bad for Mac. He’ll have plenty of job offers soon enough, I expect. Although they may be coach positions…but then, you never know, lots of manager spots going to be available!
Well, you can’t make an omelette without reshuffling a few deck chairs.
I’ll have you know I’ve made a lot of omelettes without reshuffling ANY deck chairs.
Frustrated that Hamilton has not been great so far against Toronto, but then again the Rangers won’t have to pay a dime of his salary next year.
Napoli comes through in a pinch hit and ties the game… then carelessly gets picked off. WTH? He’s not even a threat to run.
Deshields may have injured himself, and now Cecil is walking off the mound hurt as well.
— Alan
He’s throwing pretty hard.
— Alan
edit: man everyone is suddenly agog over Colby Rasmus. About two weeks ago he was being booed and castigated in Houston.
Ah, the post-season. It can get a journeyman his ten minutes of fame (2012 Marco Scutaro), or make a goat of a solid player (Buckner!). All you gotta do is get really hot or really cold for a couple of weeks…or in some cases, just one play.
Wow, just letting the runner steal second, and then third, without a throw even with 2 outs is just playing with fire. Rangers lucked out, but that could have been an instant disaster. I figure the catcher thought he was too late to throw to second, and then was probably told not to throw to third to prevent a mis-throw, but still… phew. On to the 13th.
— Alan
Yeah, the postseason is a complete crapshoot. Of the last 27 teams to dominate their division (winning by 10+ games), none have won a World Series, and only two have done it since the Wild Card era began ('95 Braves and '98 Yanks), meanwhile 6 Wild Card teams have gone all the way.
Man the instant replay/challenge thing to see if every single millisecond you were still on the bag is really starting to bug me. Yeah the Rangers won both challenges, but both calls could have easily gone against them depending on your interpretation.
— Alan
Five straight for the road teams, and Houston is leading in game #6. Craziness!
The Blue Jays certainly are capable of winning three straight, but the Rangers look pretty darn good right now. I don’t see that series getting back to Toronto. Which is certainly not what I’d have said a week ago, but…short series, anything can happen!
Absolutely intense game. I have no idea what went on with Kela-Donaldson in the 13th. But the Rangers bullpen was amazing today and getting another day of rest will be good and get them all revitalized.
KC came back!
— Alan
