The Hey its 2021 now guys MLB thread

[CreightonWarrior]

Brewers have won 8 of their last 9 series.

[Jockey]

Brewers have won 8 of their last 9 series.

Even more impressive is that the only one they lost was because of a bullpen ravaged by Covid.

If they make it 9 of 10, the race is over.

[GB Warrior]

Even more impressive is that the only one they lost was because of a bullpen ravaged by Covid.

If they make it 9 of 10, the race is over.

They need the race to be over. The Reds are hot (against bad teams, but you beat the teams in front of you) and have been a pain in the ass. Brewers could really use putting this to bed to get healthy after losing Peralta, Taylor and Escobar in quick succession

[jsglow]

They need the race to be over. The Reds are hot (against bad teams, but you beat the teams in front of you) and have been a pain in the ass. Brewers could really use putting this to bed to get healthy after losing Peralta, Taylor and Escobar in quick succession

I don't get the pessimism.  Freddy will miss one turn, Taylor is the 5th OF and we'll have to wait on Escobar's hammy but a 10 day IR seems likely. Rowdy! Rowdy!  The Reds are playing well but so is the Crew.  In fact, I wonder if anybody is playing better since the ASB. (Not going to look.)

What I do know is that over the last 20 games: Crew 14-6; Reds 13-7.  Oh, and the Crew got decimated by Covid and survived.  The Reds are a legitimate playoff team enjoying the trip to the west coast for a road WC game is my guess.  Win 1 or 2 this week and we're fine.

[Jockey]

I don't get the pessimism.  Freddy will miss one turn, Taylor is the 5th OF and we'll have to wait on Escobar's hammy but a 10 day IR seems likely. Rowdy! Rowdy!  The Reds are playing well but so is the Crew.  In fact, I wonder if anybody is playing better since the ASB. (Not going to look.)

What I do know is that over the last 20 games: Crew 14-6; Reds 13-7.  Oh, and the Crew got decimated by Covid and survived.  The Reds are a legitimate playoff team enjoying the trip to the west coast for a road WC game is my guess.  Win 1 or 2 this week and we're fine.

I agree about no need for pessimism. But I expect Peralta to miss more than one start. I hope so and think Counsel may keep him out a couple extra starts to give him a rest.

But shoulder injuries are the worst enemy a pitcher can have. I'm hoping for the best, but I still have Teddy Higuera nightmares.

[GB Warrior]

I don't get the pessimism.  Freddy will miss one turn, Taylor is the 5th OF and we'll have to wait on Escobar's hammy but a 10 day IR seems likely. Rowdy! Rowdy!  The Reds are playing well but so is the Crew.  In fact, I wonder if anybody is playing better since the ASB. (Not going to look.)

What I do know is that over the last 20 games: Crew 14-6; Reds 13-7.  Oh, and the Crew got decimated by Covid and survived.  The Reds are a legitimate playoff team enjoying the trip to the west coast for a road WC game is my guess.  Win 1 or 2 this week and we're fine.

To be clear, I'm not even remotely worried about the division. But as soon as it is locked up, the Crew can turn their attention to more strategic rest days.

Tons to be optimistic about right now, and it's with this in mind it'd be nice to finish off a pesky Reds team

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Even more impressive is that the only one they lost was because of a bullpen ravaged by Covid.

Plus, if Avi Garcia catches what should have been a routine flyout, they would have won that series where they were ravaged by COVID

[WI_Inferiority_Complexes1]

Plus, if Avi Garcia catches what should have been a routine flyout, they would have won that series where they were ravaged by COVID

Never mind. My bad.

[jsglow]

Plus, if Avi Garcia catches what should have been a routine flyout, they would have won that series where they were ravaged by COVID

Yeah, that one stung a little.  But they've had a remarkable ability to shake off tough losses and move on.

Now I want to bring up a new topic. This Aaron Ashby kid looks to be the real deal.  Yeah, I watched the Cubs rock him 2 months ago when nerves got the better of him.  But in his last 3 spot outings he's been outstanding for a 23 yr old kid who had never pitched above high A ball before this year.  Lo Cain had very high praise following his long Nashville rehab.  Couns has said he'll take the Corbin Burnes path this year.  And did any of you see the approving nod from Soto after he gassed him at 99?  Love it. Kid will absolutely contribute down the stretch.

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, that one stung a little.  But they've had a remarkable ability to shake off tough losses and move on.

Now I want to bring up a new topic. This Aaron Ashby kid looks to be the real deal.  Yeah, I watched the Cubs rock him 2 months ago when nerves got the better of him.  But in his last 3 spot outings he's been outstanding for a 23 yr old kid who had never pitched above high A ball before this year.  Lo Cain had very high praise following his long Nashville rehab.  Couns has said he'll take the Corbin Burnes path this year.  And did any of you see the approving nod from Soto after he gassed him at 99?  Love it. Kid will absolutely contribute down the stretch.

It's remarkable how the organization has developed pitchers since Stearns came aboard.

[GB Warrior]

It's remarkable how the organization has developed pitchers since Stearns came aboard.

Agreed. The Pitching Lab is wizardry as best I can tell. A small market team being able to develop a Cy Young candidate, let alone three within a stone's throw, is incredible and frankly, transforms the staying power of this team.

They won't be able to pay all of these guys, but that gives you the ability to re-load. Let's hope there's a WS before then.

[WI_Inferiority_Complexes1]

You don't get to choose your opponents, but the White Sox are 20-25 against teams with a winning record.

[WI_Inferiority_Complexes1]

The Cubs almost went a month without winning at home.

[dgies9156]

The Cubs almost went a month without winning at home.

Wonderful gifts from the baseball Gods.

Too bad my Cardinals suck too!

[Dish]

You don't get to choose your opponents, but the White Sox are 20-25 against teams with a winning record.

Makes zero difference, 7 of the last 19 WS champs have finished .500 or worse in the regular season against teams over .500.

[WI_Inferiority_Complexes1]

Makes zero difference, 7 of the last 19 WS champs have finished .500 or worse in the regular season against teams over .500.

Just out of curiosity, why would you limit that stat to 19 years? It's a weird number. As far as I can remember nothing changed in MLB 19 years ago. Playoffs have been expanded, teams have been added, etc but I don't think any of that happened 19 years ago.

Like I get using stats to push a narrative- and I'm not even against it- but a cut-off date of 19 years ago just looks so artificial. I'm assuming it's got to at least be 7 of the last 20, right?

Is it also 7 of the last 25?

Has it only happened 7 times, with the first instance being 19 years ago? Maybe that's it.

[Dish]

Just out of curiosity, why would you limit that stat to 19 years? It's a weird number. As far as I can remember nothing changed in MLB 19 years ago. Playoffs have been expanded, teams have been added, etc but I don't think any of that happened 19 years ago.

Like I get using stats to push a narrative- and I'm not even against it- but a cut-off date of 19 years ago just looks so artificial. I'm assuming it's got to at least be 7 of the last 20, right?

Is it also 7 of the last 25?

Has it only happened 7 times, with the first instance being 19 years ago? Maybe that's it.

Quite honestly, convenient that the stat is on Twitter and quickly available. That's the sole reason I stole it.

The Sox aren't getting blown out for the most part against teams over .500. Their run differential against teams over .500 is -9. By comparison, the Yankees are -20.

They've got plenty of problems from injuries, bullpen performance, poor defense, lulls where they don't collectively hit for stretches of games, but at the end of August with a comfortable lead, I'm concerned mostly about them getting healthy.

They very well could get curb stomped by the Astros in the first round, but I'd like to see them try at full strength (which they haven't been all year).

[CreightonWarrior]

Brewers put on a show for the new boss in the 7th last night.

[jsglow]

A solid win when one of your aces has an off night.  The Reds weakness is their pen.  That was their late inning 'A team' of trade deadline acquisitions (Givens and Cessa) that failed them last night.

Let's hope Woody's recent 'struggles' end tonight and the Crew can rack up another series win. That'll get us one step closer to locking it up, eh GB Warrior? 

[MuggsyB]

I really don't follow baseball much but it seems to me that after the Dodgers the Brewers have as good a chance as anyone.  It sounds like Yelich is coming around a bit and their overall hitting is better than I thought.  Statistically no one jumps off the page but it's a capable overall line-up.

[The Sultan]

I really don't follow baseball much but it seems to me that after the Dodgers the Brewers have as good a chance as anyone.  It sounds like Yelich is coming around a bit and their overall hitting is better than I thought.  Statistically no one jumps off the page but it's a capable overall line-up.

Right now, FanGraphs has them with the second best odds to win the WS among National League teams - behind the Dodgers. 


Dodgers:  21.5%
Astros:  14.7%
White Sox: 12.4%
Brewers: 11.0%
Yankees: 10.7%

[Uncle Rico]

I really don't follow baseball much but it seems to me that after the Dodgers the Brewers have as good a chance as anyone.  It sounds like Yelich is coming around a bit and their overall hitting is better than I thought.  Statistically no one jumps off the page but it's a capable overall line-up.

I can't find it but I thought I saw a stat saying the Brewers had one of the lower k rates in baseball, a pretty big reversal from a year ago

[wadesworld]

Series win should basically lock up the division for the Brewers, but my God do the Reds have an easy second half schedule.  Including games played since the All Star break, they play...

6 with the Brewers (2 remaining to play)
6 with the Mets
9 with the Cardinals (6 remaining to play)
10 with the Cubs (3 remaining to play)
2 with the Twins
13 with the Pirates (9 remaining to play)
1 with Cleveland
3 with Atlanta
3 with Phili
7 with the Marlins (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Tigers (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Dodgers (3 remaining to play)
4 with the Nationals (4 remaining to play)
2 with the White Sox (2 remaining to play)

Of their 35 games remaining, only 13 are against teams above .500, and 6 of those are against the 63-61 Cardinals.

[Uncle Rico]

Series win should basically lock up the division for the Brewers, but my God do the Pirates have an easy second half schedule.  Including games played since the All Star break, they play...

6 with the Brewers (2 remaining to play)
6 with the Mets
9 with the Cardinals (6 remaining to play)
10 with the Cubs (3 remaining to play)
2 with the Twins
13 with the Pirates (9 remaining to play)
1 with Cleveland
3 with Atlanta
3 with Phili
7 with the Marlins (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Tigers (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Dodgers (3 remaining to play)
4 with the Nationals (4 remaining to play)
2 with the White Sox (2 remaining to play)

Of their 35 games remaining, only 13 are against teams above .500, and 6 of those are against the 63-61 Cardinals.

Don't underestimate the Cardinals.  With the veteran leadership of Yadier Molina, anything is possible

[Its DJOver]

Series win should basically lock up the division for the Brewers, but my God do the Pirates have an easy second half schedule.  Including games played since the All Star break, they play...

6 with the Brewers (2 remaining to play)
6 with the Mets
9 with the Cardinals (6 remaining to play)
10 with the Cubs (3 remaining to play)
2 with the Twins
13 with the Pirates (9 remaining to play)
1 with Cleveland
3 with Atlanta
3 with Phili
7 with the Marlins (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Tigers (3 remaining to play)
3 with the Dodgers (3 remaining to play)
4 with the Nationals (4 remaining to play)
2 with the White Sox (2 remaining to play)

Of their 35 games remaining, only 13 are against teams above .500, and 6 of those are against the 63-61 Cardinals.

Somehow I'm sure the Pirates will find a way to lose these games.