Baseball 2015

[Nolamike]

Other than '05 (with that epic 17 inning game ending on an Ausmus home run), it seems as if the Braves knocked the 'Stros out of the playoffs every damn year.

[Nolamike]

Well THIS would be cool - the retiring Tim Hudson and the almost-certainly-retiring Barry Zito may have a head to head matchup, with the A's going against the Giants the final week of the season.

Maybe they could get Mark Mulder to throw out the first pitch?

I'm glad they listened to my idea to have Mulder throw out the first pitch! I assume the check is in the mail...

http://deadspin.com/barry-zito-and-tim-hudson-will-face-off-on-saturday-1732457898

[sloopjohnc]

Well THIS would be cool - the retiring Tim Hudson and the almost-certainly-retiring Barry Zito may have a head to head matchup, with the A's going against the Giants the final week of the season.

Maybe they could get Mark Mulder to throw out the first pitch?

I'm glad they listened to my idea to have Mulder throw out the first pitch! I assume the check is in the mail...

http://deadspin.com/barry-zito-and-tim-hudson-will-face-off-on-saturday-1732457898

I saw that the other day. Mulder asked to be part of the Sunday ESPN broadcast.

[harvey k-tel]

AL East Champs, baby!

[Geoff]

AL East Champs, baby!

Let's hope those monster bats stay hot for the rest of this month.

[sloopjohnc]

Reliever Jeremy Affeldt retired today, one of the core four of the San Francisco Giants relief squad.

Not a great seasonal player, but he had an ERA of 0.86 for the postseason. Third lowest ever.

Also, his take in SI about things he won't miss is entertaining: http://www.si.com/cauldron/2015/09/30/j ... d-champion

[toomanyhatz]

Another Giants player I respect immensely (sorry, John).

[sloopjohnc]

Another Giants player I respect immensely (sorry, John).

I hate nice Dodger fans.

[toomanyhatz]

If it helps, I still think Bumgarner is a jackass. I was really glad to see him pitch like crap while Kershaw had his way with you guys.

Better?

[sloopjohnc]

If it helps, I still think Bumgarner is a jackass. I was really glad to see him pitch like crap while Kershaw had his way with you guys.

Better?

By the same token, I'd hate him too if he wasn't on the Giants. He's a red ass the way Will Clark was a red ass.

[toomanyhatz]

We did a nice job of screwing up Tim Hudson's finale too. Of course he'll never be a Giant to me, he'll always be a Brave.

[sloopjohnc]

We did a nice job of screwing up Tim Hudson's finale too. Of course he'll never be a Giant to me, he'll always be a Brave.

He'll always be an A for me.

Jack Clark was on the radio today, and even though he's a former Dodgers' hitting coach, just laid into those Dodgers teams that continually beat the Giants in the late '70s and early '80s. He said he was just hoping to be on second base, have someone get a hit so he could lay in to Steve Yeager, who Clark said, "Looked like he needed a beating."

He also reminded the radio audience that when he got that hit in the '85 playoffs for the Cardinals, he partly did it for the Bay Area fans.

[harvey k-tel]

Why you should root for the Blue Jays:

http://deadspin.com/root-for-the-blue-jays-in-the-playoffs-1733994813?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[sloopjohnc]

Why you should root for the Blue Jays:

http://deadspin.com/root-for-the-blue-jays-in-the-playoffs-1733994813?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

They're like rooting for a softball team.

I like Donaldson, former A's, and Martin. I know a guy who played minor league ball with Martin and said he's a cool guy.

One of the only Dodgers I ever liked.

Typically, Tulowitzki is injured.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

Houston's been tearing it up! Looks like it comes down to the final game! I would dearly love for them to take the division from the Arlington Rangers, but we'll take what we can get ...

[BARON CORNY DOG]

Also on my wish list, three more hits for Jose Altuve, so he can make it to 200 ..

[harvey k-tel]

Why you should root for the Blue Jays:

http://deadspin.com/root-for-the-blue-jays-in-the-playoffs-1733994813?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

They're like rooting for a softball team.

Sour grapes?

[sloopjohnc]

Why you should root for the Blue Jays:

http://deadspin.com/root-for-the-blue-jays-in-the-playoffs-1733994813?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

They're like rooting for a softball team.

Sour grapes?

Not at all - it was more like a compliment they score so many runs. It serves Billy Beane right if Donaldson gets the MVP.

Rooting for Nolamike and Baron for tomorrow's wildcard game, Astros vs. Yankees.

[toomanyhatz]

Predictions? Here's mine:

Astros over Yankees
Cubs over Pirates

Royals over Astros
Blue Jays over Rangers

Cubs over Cardinals
Dodgers over Mets

Royals over Blue Jays
Dodgers over Cubs (I'll admit this is wishful thinking - could really go either way!)

Dodgers over Royals (ditto - and if the Dodgers have to face the Cards or Pirates, I doubt they'll even get that far, as much as I hate to admit it)

[sloopjohnc]

Predictions? Here's mine:

Astros over Yankees
Cubs over Pirates

Royals over Astros
Blue Jays over Rangers

Cubs over Cardinals
Dodgers over Mets

Royals over Blue Jays
Dodgers over Cubs (I'll admit this is wishful thinking - could really go either way!)

Dodgers over Royals (ditto - and if the Dodgers have to face the Cards or Pirates, I doubt they'll even get that far, as much as I hate to admit it)

Here's a good little analysis by CBS Sports: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-bas ... f-matchups