Saturday, October 9, 2021

Playoffs Day 2: Intriguing Trends and Also Some BS

Okay, most disappointing outcome first. The Astros are up 2-0 on the White Sox, thanks to a barrage of new figures including Chas McCormick, and have managed to get past Lance Lynn AND Lucas Giolito. This is not good at all, especially considering that the red-hot Astros only need one more win to advance, and the White Sox just aren't very formidable. Again, this White Sox team have spent the year looking really good, and being the far-and-away leaders of the AL Central, so for them to look so effete now is kinda sad. 

Tomorrow is the do-or-die game for Chicago, and while they will be home, the odds are no longer on their side. It's going to be very difficult to beat the Astros now, and I hope they have some energy left to at least win Game 3. 

Meanwhile, Game 1 of Brewers-Braves went kind of exactly the way I figured- a pitching battle. I knew Corbin Burnes would be on for a while, but Charlie Morton held his own as well, putting in a really nice start despite giving up a 2-run shot to Rowdy Tellez, finally having some nice postseason numbers [just not with Toronto]. The Brewers looked really good yesterday, and I'm still thinking they're the favorite here, despite some solid stuff from the Braves as well. Today is Fried v. Woodruff, and the former is known for giving up more runs than the latter.

Game 2 in Tampa was nice because it permeated the expectations set by the Astros series. Yes, Game 1 may have been a Rays blowout, but after the Luplow grand slam, the Sox got the best of the Rays' bullpen, beating up on Michael Wacha and friends and giving big moments to Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vazquez. It's much more exciting if the lower seed in a playoff series puts up a fight, and evening the series on the way to two more games in Boston is a nice turn of events. Again, it'd be very cool if the Sox somehow upset the Rays, even if...it's not looking like anyone in the AL will be worth rooting for for me..

The biggest statement of the night might have been Logan Webb absolutely silencing the Dodgers in San Francisco, all while Kris Bryant, Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford kept him warm. As awesome as the Dodgers have been this season, the Giants have always been one step ahead, and having Bryant along for the ride as the team shifts into October mode for the first time under Gabe Kapler is a little scary, especially for the Dodgers. I do think there's still a lot left for LA to do, but it's going to be an uphill battle for them, especially with Gausman on the hill tonight.

Keep up the good work. Hoping for the Brewers and Giants to keep it going and avoid a complete playoff cycle repeat from 2020. 

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