The Hey its 2021 now guys MLB thread

[MuggsyB]

They're the top seed so...yeah.

But the Dodgers are the WS favorites and played in the WC game.

[Uncle Rico]

But the Dodgers are the WS favorites and played in the WC game.

Well, who do you think the favorite is and why?

[MuggsyB]

Well, who do you think the favorite is and why?

I have no idea.  I was just curious.  I only watch baseball during the playoffs.

[MUBurrow]

Is TB the favorite from the AL?

TB is such a unicorn, it makes them really hard to predict in a short series.  It reminds me a little of the moneyball-era A's in that they are on the cutting edge of how to game stats in their favor over 162, but their roster will always look underwhelming in a playoff series.   

Their three primary starters for the playoffs will be McClanahan, Baz... Patino? Rasmussen? I'm sure that in a 7 game series they end up going with an opener and/or bullpen game at least once, maybe twice.  They had 14 pitchers with a save this year.  Baz got his first call up on Sept 20.  Rasmussen hasn't thrown more than 5 innings or 74 pitches all year.  As a team they were between 6th and 10th in MLB in pretty much every category.   

I know all of baseball is going a little more this way, but the Rays take it to another level, especially on that budget.

[cheebs09]

Anybody else feel a little less excitement than normal for a Brewers playoff series?

For me Covid and maybe Williams breaking his hand has me not as amped as usual. That and my preparing myself for the offense to lay an egg.

It may just also be the grind of work the last few years and a different stage of life.

[Billy Hoyle]

Well, who do you think the favorite is and why?

The Dodgers based on their pitching staff. Even without Kershaw.

[Uncle Rico]

Anybody else feel a little less excitement than normal for a Brewers playoff series?

For me Covid and maybe Williams breaking his hand has me not as amped as usual. That and my preparing myself for the offense to lay an egg.

It may just also be the grind of work the last few years and a different stage of life.

Couple of things, first, they didn't play to game 163 like in 2018 to win the division and guarantee a full playoff series.

2019 came out of nowhere in September without Yelich and after a particularly brutal August.

They basically clinched the division by Labor Day this year anddespite an otherworldly performance by St. Louis, could have coasted even longer through the month.  Different and less pressure-packed month.

The offense is definitely a concern, too.  I think offense was rarely a concern on previous Brewer playoff teams dating all the way back to 1981.  Many people say they like great pitching but it's probably not that true, so the games feel less exciting when you're not waiting for an offensive explosion.

I'm pumped and can't wait to get to the Keg

[The Sultan]

Anybody else feel a little less excitement than normal for a Brewers playoff series?

For me Covid and maybe Williams breaking his hand has me not as amped as usual. That and my preparing myself for the offense to lay an egg.

It may just also be the grind of work the last few years and a different stage of life.

I think the fact that its the fourth year in a row of the playoffs also has tempered some enthusiasm.  I might be wrong, but I thought I heard this morning that today's game wasn't yet sold out.

[jficke13]

I think the fact that its the fourth year in a row of the playoffs also has tempered some enthusiasm.  I might be wrong, but I thought I heard this morning that today's game wasn't yet sold out.

That really surprises me. I popped onto Brewers.com and it looks like there are a handful of sections with seats available at least if you select single seats. The attendance thing might be workday start + covid too.

[BrewCity83]

I'm pumped and can't wait to get to the Keg

Me too...heading there in a couple hours.  This Brewers team is good and finally has some playoff experience.

[Dish]

4 games...whoever you are rooting for...LFG!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't know that end of the season momentum matters in terms of playoff success, but  I definitely think it had an impact on fan's excitement. Our heads know that the last 2-3 weeks didn't matter but our hearts wanted some more Ws

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

MLB is so frustrating sometimes. I live in Chicago and cannot watch the Sox game because it's only in MLB TV and not on a single network.

Absolutely ridiculous.

[MUfan12]

MLB is so frustrating sometimes. I live in Chicago and cannot watch the Sox game because it's only in MLB TV and not on a single network.

Absolutely ridiculous.

MLB Network, no?

[wadesworld]

MASSIVE play. They had to get to Burnes here. Hopefully he settles in now.

[Dish]

RIP Sox 2021 season.

[Dish]

Among many problems, TLR pissing away this game with baffling decisions is going to be high up there.

[JustinLewisFanClubPres]

Among many problems, TLR pissing away this game with baffling decisions is going to be high up there.

Hopefully, this series will hopefully be the end of this stupid experiment with TLR as manager. But probably not.

[Jockey]

R-O-W-D-Y!!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

R-O-W-D-Y!!

ROWDY!!!!

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Front Row Amy appears to be in fine form today.

[Jockey]

Front Row Amy appears to be in fine form today.

Used to call her Sweet Connie, before I read who she is.

[GB Warrior]

Among many problems, TLR pissing away this game with baffling decisions is going to be high up there.

Maybe he's going to wait until it gets to 3-0 to start swinging

[MU82]

Among many problems, TLR pissing away this game with baffling decisions is going to be high up there.

Didn't see the game, Dish. What did he do?

[Lennys Tap]

Among many problems, TLR pissing away this game with baffling decisions is going to be high up there.

+1 Sox won in spite of him, not because of him.