2024 MLB Playoffs

[nfotiu]

It's pretty wild that the announcers were hinting that they should think about walking Soto to bring the MVP up, and it was probably the right thing to do!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Pitch by pitch breakdown of Soto's last AB

https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-alcs-home-run-pitch-by-pitch-breakdown

Only fastball he saw

[welch]

So home run hitters can thrive in the playoffs. Maybe all the pitchers' injuries have reduced the superior pitching that often stymies big-swing guys. Maybe this is just an anomoly season? Maybe this wil continue for a few years?

[Slateman]

Gotta give Stanton credit for his postseason so far too.

Carlos Rodon and Giancarlo Stanton outperforming Cole and Judge. What a time.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So home run hitters can thrive in the playoffs. Maybe all the pitchers' injuries have reduced the superior pitching that often stymies big-swing guys. Maybe this is just an anomoly season? Maybe this wil continue for a few years?

there's probably something to seeing relievers multiple times in a few days that helps power hitters square guys up. In the season, a 2 pitch pitcher like the guy Soto homered off of can dominate without hitters being able to salvage themselves. Soto had problems with sliders and Higgins's most effective pitch has been his slider. Soto was able to take 2 and fouled 2. He never squared that up, or the 2 changeups (Higgins 2d pitch) he fouled off, but there were no swing and misses. Higgins fell back on the fastball, trying to throw it far enough off the plate so Soto couldn't touch it, but it leaked into the strike zone and he killed it.

[welch]

Dodgers tossing this as a "bullpen game"??

[Slateman]

Dodgers tossing this as a "bullpen game"??

Yep. They don't have enough starters

[JCA-CrystalCity]

was gonna ask how is Tommy Edman a cleanup hitter.

[welch]

was gonna ask how is Tommy Edman a cleanup hitter.

But now you are going to ask how Mike Rizzo found and  signed Anthiny Banda, but then let him get away.

[Senatorswin]

Blake Treinen has nasty stuff.

[Natsinpwc]

was gonna ask how is Tommy Edman a cleanup hitter.

Pete Kozma effect.

[Natsinpwc]

But now you are going to ask how Mike Rizzo found and  signed Anthiny Banda, but then let him get away.

He’s been around. Pitched for the Yankees also.

[imref]

So who is the Bob Welch equivalent in this year's WS who will strike out Soto, Judge, and Stanton?

[imref]

He’s been around. Pitched for the Yankees also.

40.50 ERA in 2 IP in 2022 for them. He's been pretty awful for most of his career (8 teams):
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bandaan01.shtml

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Baseball needs a salary floor and cap. I hope Juan gets his second ring but this world series epitomizes why the league needs to do something.

[nfotiu]

Baseball needs a salary floor and cap. I hope Juan gets his second ring but this world series epitomizes why the league needs to do something.

It doesn't epitomize anything.    That just seem a wild over-reaction to the Yankees getting into their first world series in 15 years.

These are the payroll ranks of the champion vs the runner up for the last 10 season.

2024 2 v 5
2023 4/21
2022 4/8
2021 4/10
2020 1/28
2019 7/8
2018 1/3
2017 17/3
2016 5/18
2015 13/17

This is the dispersion of teams in the finals vs the 3 salary capped leagues.

MLB
14 different teams in the World Series, 8 different winners in 9 years.

NHL
13 different teams in the finals, 5 different winners.  8 different winners in 10 years.

NBA
10 different teams in the finals.  7 different winners in 10 years.   The same matchup 4 years in a row.

NFL
11 different teams in the finals.   6 different winners in 10 years.

[Senatorswin]

Baseball needs a salary floor and cap. I hope Juan gets his second ring but this world series epitomizes why the league needs to do something.

The problem with a hard salary cap is a couple of teams have committed large amounts of money in long term contracts.

[Natsinpwc]

The NBA doesn't really have a hard cap.  Go see the Warriors salaries the past few years.  Only the NHL and NFL have hard caps.

[welch]

Banda + Hudson + Treinen. Former Nationals' relievers took a large part of the game.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

It doesn't epitomize anything.    That just seem a wild over-reaction to the Yankees getting into their first world series in 15 years.

These are the payroll ranks of the champion vs the runner up for the last 10 season.

2024 2 v 5
2023 4/21
2022 4/8
2021 4/10
2020 1/28
2019 7/8
2018 1/3
2017 17/3
2016 5/18
2015 13/17

This is the dispersion of teams in the finals vs the 3 salary capped leagues.

MLB
14 different teams in the World Series, 8 different winners in 9 years.

NHL
13 different teams in the finals, 5 different winners.  8 different winners in 10 years.

NBA
10 different teams in the finals.  7 different winners in 10 years.   The same matchup 4 years in a row.

NFL
11 different teams in the finals.   6 different winners in 10 years.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-win-a-world-series-teams-almost-always-have-to-spend/

I think this explains it pretty well.

[OfftheBat]

Banda + Hudson + Treinen. Former Nationals' relievers took a large part of the game.

Tired of seeing our former players shine elsewhere...

[OfftheBat]

Baseball needs a salary floor and cap. I hope Juan gets his second ring but this world series epitomizes why the league needs to do something.

I agree.. if not a cap, then at least a G-d damn floor. Tired of these cheap owners taking their team's fans for granted.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-win-a-world-series-teams-almost-always-have-to-spend/

I think this explains it pretty well.

looking at that chart, one team outside the top 4 spenders has won since 2018

[nfotiu]

looking at that chart, one team outside the top 4 spenders has won since 2018

I'm not sure what you are saying here.

The Opening Day Payroll chart?   

9th,10th,14th,2nd,4th,1st were the payroll rankings of the winners since 2018.

[Slateman]

Tired of seeing our former players shine elsewhere...

We traded Treinen for Doolittle. Got a WS out of it.