Quote:
Originally Posted by OneOut
Some MLB post-season thoughts nobody asked for:
1 - Orioles - If the young starting pitching holds up (big if) & pen thrives without Bautista, they could come out of the AL. (Took a small shot to win AL +290)
2 - Astros - Over-rated. Verlander & Valdez aren't as good as last year and I trust none of their pitchers beyond that.
3 - Twins - Hitting & bullpen got hot late. Might have the best starting pitching in AL. Keep it up and they have a shot, but tough 1st round w/ Jays.
4 - Rays - Their roster is built for mixing and matching. Best pen 2nd half, but did they lose too many bats and starting arms to injuries? (Small shot AL +475)
5 - Rangers - Who's going to pitch? Starting and bullpen.
6 - Blue Jays - This is the most volatile team with guys having down years (Guerrero), who could go off in post-season. Bullpen scares me too much though.
1 - Braves - Don't see any pitching staff gonna stop them mashing, though their pitching is questionable now. (Took pre-season +750 to win it all)
2 - Dodgers - How were they as good as they were this year? Pitching banged up, bottom half of lineup is junk, but top half is awesome. Never count out.
3 - Brewers - Woodruff injured now + maybe worst offense in the post-season.
4 - Phillies - Wheeler & Nola + the offense could punish anyone in a short series. Like what they've done w/ pen late in season too. May have best shot to challenge Braves w/ good pitching. Defense still sucks though, but so does Atlanta's. (Small shot NL +700)
5 - Marlins - How is this team in the post-season w/ a -50 run differential? Best 2 starters & best hitter injured. Most likely WC sweep victim.
6 - Diamondbacks - My boys! Cashed a +550 post-season ticket on them. Have +7000 (NL) and +17000 (to win it all). Admittedly, lots of questions. Maybe the
worst pen in the post-season and starters are questionable, but I like decision to start Pfaadt in G1. He came on under the radar later in the season. Playoffs could be his break out party. Corbin Carroll is a joy to watch if healthy.
Feel like I did a pretty good job in the NL, while completely whiffing the AL.
Though the Twins did have plenty of chances and the Astros ran real well in that series.
Eovaldi also suddenly getting healthy was unexpected and I did mention the young Baltimore pitching was carrying a wide range of outcomes.
Some crazy post-season notes:
- Last year, 3 of 4 100 win teams went down in their first round of play (Mets/Dodgers/Braves) with only the Astros surviving.
- This year, the Orioles & Dodgers won 100 and were swept. If Atlanta goes down, that'll be all 3 again.
- The AL East had 3 teams reach the post-season and went 0-7.
- The Orioles were the 18th team to reach the post-season not having been swept in a single series all season long. Only one of the previous 17 teams were swept in a post-season series. Bruch Bochy's 1998 Padres in the World Series. So Bruce Bochy's Texas Rangers swept the O's this year.
- 3 of the 5 largest upsets in post-season history by regular season win differences were against the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Dodgers.