MLB 2017 Season

[Vander Blue Man Group]

If that were my team, I would have gone ballistic. Horribly egregious call. A fail-mary level (in terms of severity of the miss, not magnitude of impact) call that the Cubs should be thankful didn't cost them.

I know it's not reviewable, and that will almost certainly change this offseason. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the home plate umpire, who is in perfect position to see and makes the right call, allows himself to be overruled. I thought the announcers did a great job of explaining exactly what the ump is looking for and why the home plate should be the one to make the call.

Once I saw them talking for more than 15 seconds I started getting really worried they were going to actually change the call.  It's mind boggling.  Maddon was pretty direct and forceful when discussing it afterwards and actually said one of the reasons they gave him for changing the call was someone heard "two different sounds" or something of that nature.  Just unreal. 

[Pakuni]

It was very bad, no good call .... which ultimately had no effect on the outcome of the game.
And, if we're being honest, the worst call of the night was Dave Roberts' decision to start Chase Utley and Curtis Granderson. That actually had an impact on the result.

[Jockey]

I know it's not reviewable, and that will almost certainly change this offseason. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the home plate umpire, who is in perfect position to see and makes the right call, allows himself to be overruled.

He is in the best position to hear if the ball hits the bat - not so much to see.

[buckchuckler]

You're right - I am being unreasonable.

Yeah totally.  I'm glad you see that now.  In other news the RF umpire will be making all calls at 3rd base tonight.

Even I was glad when Granderson Kd on the next pitch.

[#UnleashSean]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a more egregious umpiring decision than that "foul tip" call in the top of the 8th.

Whats worse is that Rizzo actually did tip a ball in the 6th (?) and the ump called him out without any appeal.

[cheebs09]

I like Brian Anderson, but I worried I was losing my mind. He made it sound like it hit him when it clearly looked like it was off his bat.

[buckchuckler]

Whats worse is that Rizzo actually did tip a ball in the 6th (?) and the ump called him out without any appeal.

I think that is much more understandable than having an OF ump make a ball/strike call.

[drewm88]

I like Brian Anderson, but I worried I was losing my mind. He made it sound like it hit him when it clearly looked like it was off his bat.

I like Brian Anderson, but I think he's been bad this series. As has the production work--seems like a lot of bad cuts and the like. Ron Darling being bad is a given.

[muwarrior69]

Boy, hard to bet against the Yanks at this point.  They will get Verlander, but they counter with Severino, along with that bullpen which is just unreal.  Even with Betances unable to get anyone out, they have been dominant. 

Great start by Tanaka tonight.  He killed my fantasy team this year in the first half, but he has been himself ever since.

..and that trade with the White Sox is really paying off.

[GB Warrior]

Whats worse is that Rizzo actually did tip a ball in the 6th (?) and the ump called him out without any appeal.

I thought if you swing thru, you sacrificed hit batter protection. Could be wrong.

[#UnleashSean]

I thought if you swing thru, you sacrificed hit batter protection. Could be wrong.

Hmmm? It hit his bat.

[GB Warrior]

Hmmm? It hit his bat.

I must be thinking of the wrong play, where he swung and the pitch hit him. Or I was not paying good enough attention.

[cheebs09]

I must be thinking of the wrong play, where he swung and the pitch hit him. Or I was not paying good enough attention.

That's where Brian Anderson said it hit him, but the replay showed it hit his bat.

[buckchuckler]

So, Kershaw is 99-1 after receiving at least 4 runs of support.

[Lennys Tap]

So, Kershaw is 99-1 after receiving at least 4 runs of support.

100-1

[MU82]

My Cubbie-fan son texted from Chicago to say "the White Sox foisted Quintana on us." My son's a Curb fan, too!

[Lennys Tap]

My Cubbie-fan son texted from Chicago to say "the White Sox foisted Quintana on us." My son's a Curb fan, too!

When someone named Kiki ends up with almost as many RBI in one game (7) as the Cubs had in the entire series (8), Jose Quintana is not the problem.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Fork

[MU B2002]

When someone named Kiki ends up with almost as many RBI in one game (7) as the Cubs had in the entire series (8), Jose Quintana is not the problem.

Kiké

[MerrittsMustache]

Dusty's gone in Washington...supposedly against the GM's wishes. Could be an interesting off-season for the Nats.

[buckchuckler]

Dusty's gone in Washington...supposedly against the GM's wishes. Could be an interesting off-season for the Nats.

They have the weirdest thing with managers.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

They have the weirdest thing with managers.

Both Brad Asmus, (recently fired) and Dave Martinez (Maddon's bench coach for a decade), interviewed for the Nationals gig when Matt Williams got it.

[tower912]

Verlander does Verlander things on Friday.

Bump.

[buckchuckler]

Hey look!  The best offensive team in baseball found their bats!

Verlander has been unreal, which as Tower indicated, is unsurprising. 

I still think the Yanks have the advantage in a game 7.  I think that bullpen gives them a distinct edge (thought I kind of hope I am wrong...).  The Yanks may well end up in the WS because of their trade with the Sox.  Kahnle and Robertson have been indispensable, especially in light of the struggles of Betances. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Cheering hard for my adopted Astros. Would be a great story for them to win the Series after Harvey. Plus, how can anyone cheer for the evil empires that are the Yankees and Dodgers against the upstart Astros?