MLB & Division Watching (2017)

[spidernat]

Gonna suck when they have 4 days off to cool off.

[mimontero88]

I think he's got a case. The Dodgers turned pretty quickly after he came up.

Don't get me wrong.  The kid's having a stellar year.  But Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, and Joey Votto are all having objectively better years than he is and it really isn't that close.

[DPMOmaha]

Cubs have an easier schedule, but I think this NL Central race is going to go down to the wire. That Cubs/Brewers series late in September in Milwaukee could be huge.

[mitlen]

Decided to take a look at the Dodgers in the standings.    I knew they were on a tear but an over .700 winning percentage in August  ....   wow.

[mimontero88]

Decided to take a look at the Dodgers in the standings.    I knew they were on a tear but an over .700 winning percentage in August  ....   wow.

Since June 7 (exactly two months ago) when Justin Turner returned to the lineup they are 43-7, good for a winning percentage of .860.  Holy hell, that team is good.

[Natsinpwc]

Don't look now but the Cards are only 1.5 games in back of the Cubs. Tied with Milwaukee. Pirates are only 3.5 games behind.

[imref]

Don't look now but the Cards are only 1.5 games in back of the Cubs. Tied with Milwaukee. Pirates are only 3.5 games behind.

Giants looked like the dominant  giants of the last few years last night.

[dcpatti]

Mariners are currently in possession of the second AL wild card spot.

[whytev]

Mariners are currently in possession of the second AL wild card spot.

I want them to sneak in so bad!

[Truconfidence]

Willson Conteraras hammie blew up, could not happen to a nicer guy

[bluestreak]

Nats are only 2.5 games behind the Astros.  I didn’t think there was any way the Nats could catch them.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

home field in every playoff round goes to best record, right? 

[bluestreak]

home field in every playoff round goes to best record, right?

Correct

[varoadking]

Correct

So we could be playing Colorado or Arizona on the road to start the second round?  Odd that a Wild Card team would trump a Division Winner with all the emphasis they place on winning your Division.

Edit:  The notes regarding "Best Record" aren't noted for the NL and AL CS...  http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp

[bluestreak]

So we could be playing Colorado or Arizona on the road to start the second round?  Odd that a Wild Card team would trump a Division Winner with all the emphasis they place on winning your Division.

No. Wild card is always visiting except if playing another wild card. Sorry. I assumed we were talking about all division winners.

[varoadking]

No. Wild card is always visiting except if playing another wild card. Sorry. I assumed we were talking about all division winners.

 

[bluestreak]

In the event that a wild-card team has the better record than the other qualifying team that is a division champion, the division champion still gets the advantage and hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-mlb-playoffs-work-321331

[RobDibblesGhost]

No. Wild card is always visiting except if playing another wild card. Sorry. I assumed we were talking about all division winners.

Right. Wild Card is the 4-seed, Division Winners get 1-3, even if their record is worse than the Wild Card teams.

[mimontero88]

Nats are only 2.5 games behind the Astros.  I didn’t think there was any way the Nats could catch them.

The Astros are fading badly but that shouldn't be too surprising.  Not to take anything away from them because they're a great team and an absolute World Series contender but the pace they were on earlier this season was always going to be unsustainable.

[mimontero88]

Mariners are currently in possession of the second AL wild card spot.

Now the Twins.  Personally I'm rooting for the Rays, who are just a half game back, because I want to see The Buffalo hitting home runs in the playoffs.  Pretty crazy how bunched the AL is though.  The Twins, Rays, Angels, Mariners, Royals, O's, and Rangers are all within 3 games of that last spot.

[dcpatti]

Nolan Arenado has left the game with an apparent hand injury after being hit by a pitch.

[GuyFromCO]

Nolan Arenado has left the game with an apparent hand injury after being hit by a pitch.

He's fine. Just a bruise. Hoping no DL time.

Also, Chad Bettis is making his first start of the year after battling off cancer!!

[Truconfidence]

How bout that lockdown closer the Yankees have...oh wait.

[mimontero88]

How bout that lockdown closer the Yankees have...oh wait.

Rafael Devers, the kid who hit the homer off Chapman, has two more in his first two ABs today.  One over the Green Monster and one to right.  Very impressive.

[Natsinpwc]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20345968/chicago-cubs-use-atypical-alignment-joey-votto-plate-appearance

Maddon at it again.