We're talking about two teams that started off an NLDS 0-2 and needed to win their way back to a tie or a victory. One of them did it. The other couldn't.
It shouldn't be that shocking that the tighter matchup of these division series's is the divisional one. The Cubs and Brewers have been going back and forth all season. The Cubs had the division in the first half, then Milwaukee came blazing ahead and became a truly fantastic team to take the 1 seed. They won the first two games, and somehow the Cubs were able to take down not only Quinn Priester but Freddy Peralta, one of the toughest pitchers in the majors this year. Ian Happ's three-run bomb silenced any chance of an easy waltz to the NLCS for the Brewers, and the Cubs' pitching, including an excellent start by Matthew Boyd [his second strong postseason in a row] and some great 'pen work by Daniel Palencia and Drew Pomeranz, quieted a truly tough lineup. The extra homers from Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch, off Robert Gasser, were enough to cut out the tension for Cubs fans. Though I do think the umps screwed over Carson Kelly. The ABS system's gonna be nice, but how are we gonna hold them accountable for saying a home run's a foul.
It really speaks to how unpredictable this season has been that the two NLDSs to go all five games were Tigers-Mariners and Cubs-Brewers. The Dodgers and Jays were quicker, but the more fun teams took the whole week.
While I was able to get through this season without the Astros ruining my playoff year, there is still the matter of just how well the Dodgers have continued to play in October. There are specific players, like Teoscar Hernandez, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy and Blake Snell now, who will do next to nothing during the regular season, make the postseason roster and become amazing. Kiké Hernandez may be one of the best October performers ever, which shouldn't cancel out his .200 average during the regular season but it's still gotten this team two rings. Tonight, all the Dodgers needed to win was a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded pitcher error. There were no traditional RBIs. In a series where the Dodgers have rallied late on multiple occasions, it just took Andy Pages landing a ball in the right place and that was it. Yet another NLCS, and a chance at a second World Series. It's not set in stone yet, as either NL Central team could really chase them, but with this series they've finally made up for their numerous regular season shortcomings...which is maybe a clue that the expanded postseason gives lower seeds an unfair advantage.
I mean, once again the Phillies got a first-round bye and couldn't save the momentum. They've gotten kicked out in the 2nd round with teams way better than the ones that made NLCSs, and it's because this playoff schematic doesn't always help a great team stay great. Unless you're somebody like the Dodgers or something, the first round by is gonna slow you down, and the Phils did not show up much in this series at all. Harper, Turner and Bohm were nowhere to be found. Schwarber hit two bombs but not when it counted. Castellanos was somewhat helpful here and there but a defensive liability. Harrison Bader looked good but that injury really killed us. And ultimately, Orion Kerkering could not handle this moment, and panicked in a moment where another pitcher [possibly even Luzardo] could have had the reflexes to send the game to a 12th inning. But it shouldn't have come down to him in the first place because the Phils should have just outhit a team that was practically standing in place.
That may have been our last shot. A lot of people are leaving, the remaining guys didn't all step up this year, and Harper's leaving his peak. I don't know if we compete next year. The Mets, Braves and Marlins will all have better teams, and I don't know if we will. We could have had something this year, and we simply chose not to.
Game 5 of the ALDS tomorrow in Seattle. With both my teams gone I'm ride or die for the Mariners.
No comments:
Post a Comment