2025 MLB Season

[Billy Hoyle]

I think I agree. I certainly would have rather lost last night's game 10-1.

That was a real gut-punch. I didn't sleep well last night, and I've only been a Mariners fan for a year. I feel for those who have been following the team for decades. It's tough being a fan!

As a Tigers fan I get it after that 15 inning gut punch. Hell, the Lions loss to the Niners in 2024 still stings - no other team would have a pass bounce off the defender's helmet and into the arms of the receiver, or have their RB have his first fumble of the season. I'd rather get blown out like MU in 2003 than dwell on the "what ifs."

And there is no loss that haunts me more than Stanford 2008 (Arkansas 1996 is a close second). Dammit, Burke couldn't have defended Lopez any better). Having to interview and then work with their PG, Mitch Johnson (16 assists, one turnover), for a year was a constant reminder of that heartbreak.

[Uncle Rico]

I think I agree. I certainly would have rather lost last night's game 10-1.

That was a real gut-punch. I didn't sleep well last night, and I've only been a Mariners fan for a year. I feel for those who have been following the team for decades. It's tough being a fan!

Watching the Packers lose Super Bowl 32 was like watching a car crash in slow motion.  That's the closest I've gotten to a what the hell just happened sports loss and that was buffered by them winning the year before.

The Seahawks stunning them in the '14 NFC Championship game was another but again, not that long after winning Super Bowl 45.

The Mariners were 8 outs from making their first World Series.  I can't imagine watching that at Safeco and going home afterwards.

I say baseball is the cruelest because of how fast it can go sideways in a game.  Thinking of the Pirates in game 7 of the '92 NLCS.  That was it for their fans.  The Indians in game 7 of the '97 World Series and blowing the '16 Series after being up 3-1.

I suppose the Falcons losing to the Patriots is the NFL equivalent or the Jags losing the '17 AFC title game matches the Mariners loss.  Just dong punches

[MU82]

We all love sports ... but they can be very cruel!

[tower912]

We all love sports ... but they can be very cruel!

Which is why we love them.  When our team pulls the upset and/or goes on a tourney/playoff run.   They always seem to end one game too soon.

To borrow from the original Highlander movie, ...'there can be only one'...

For 99 % of fans every season in every sport, it isn't your team.   But that one time....

[Hards Alumni]

As a Tigers fan I get it after that 15 inning gut punch. Hell, the Lions loss to the Niners in 2024 still stings - no other team would have a pass bounce off the defender's helmet and into the arms of the receiver, or have their RB have his first fumble of the season. I'd rather get blown out like MU in 2003 than dwell on the "what ifs."

And there is no loss that haunts me more than Stanford 2008 (Arkansas 1996 is a close second). Dammit, Burke couldn't have defended Lopez any better). Having to interview and then work with their PG, Mitch Johnson (16 assists, one turnover), for a year was a constant reminder of that heartbreak.

WHY WOULD YOU BRING THIS UP

[18thandWells]

I say baseball is the cruelest because of how fast it can go sideways in a game. 

I was at Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

[Uncle Rico]

I was at Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

That's in the hunt but at least Cubs fans have 2016 now

[TallTitan34]

Brook Lopez

Reece Gaines

Francisco Garcia

[GB Warrior]

WHY WOULD YOU BRING THIS UP

Took a Bucks championship for me to accept Brook

[Billy Hoyle]

WHY WOULD YOU BRING THIS UP

my therapist said that's the only way for me to move past it.

[TallTitan34]

my therapist said that's the only way for me to move past it.

For me, the Dom broken foot is significantly more devastating than the Stanford game.

[18thandWells]

My favorite player as a kid was Don Mattingly; my dad was convinced he was the only player left in the 80's who would "still hit the ball the other way." Donnie Baseball played for 13 seasons and has now managed or coached for 21 more.

24 of his 34 seasons in MLB have been spent with the coastal Evil Empires of NYY and LAD, but this will be his first World Series in uniform as a bench coach for TOR.

[MU82]

I wouldn't have guessed this:

This is the fifth time since the LCS changed to a seven-game format in 1985 that one finished in a sweep and the other went the distance. Each of the previous four times, the team that won in seven games went on to win the World Series. (From Yahoo Sports)

[TallTitan34]

Each of the previous four times, the team that won in seven games went on to win the World Series.

Momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher!

Unless you are the Brewers; then it's probably Ashby.

[JWags85]

For me, the Dom broken foot is significantly more devastating than the Stanford game.

Yea, especially since there was a really good Texas team waiting right after.  The 2008 team was a 2 seed, maybe an outside chance at a 1 depending how those Louisville/Pitt games going, regardless a clear E8 level team.  Absolute gut punch.

[tower912]

'Sitting for a week kills momentum'

Signed, 2006, 2012 Tigers

[wadesworld]

Momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher!

Unless you are the Brewers; then it's probably Ashby.

Who happened to pitch in 4 games in the Cubs series, 3 of them wins.

[wadesworld]

'Sitting for a week kills momentum'

Signed, 2006, 2012 Tigers

Brewers had no problem sitting a week going into October this year.  Their problem came when they had to play the Dodgers 2 days after that series.

[MU82]

The current wild-card format has only been in place since 2022, so IMHO there isn't enough information yet to determine whether it's better to have played in the WC round or to have gotten that week off.

In 2022, 2 teams with byes advanced and 2 teams that won WC series advanced.

In 2023, 1 team with bye advanced and 3 teams that won WC series advanced.

In 2024, 3 teams with byes advanced and 1 team that won WC series advanced.

In 2025, 3 teams with byes advanced and 1 team that won WC series advanced.

4-year total: 9 teams with byes advanced and 7 teams that won WC series advanced.

But that time-off-before-World-Series stat is still real interesting and a little surprising to me.

[TallTitan34]

Who happened to pitch in 4 games in the Cubs series, 3 of them wins.

Who happened to pitch in 3 games in the Dodgers series, 3 of them losses.

[Uncle Rico]

Who happened to pitch in 3 games in the Dodgers series, 3 of them losses.

That was after being seen in a pic with the wrong-colored, "L" flag.  All bets were off after that.  Nobody can overcome a curse like that

[MUDPT]

Didn't know if this was posted on this thread, but MU alum Ben May was behind the plate umpiring Game 3 of the ALCS. He used to ump our intramural softball games 22ish years ago.

[Pakuni]

Buster Posey is either a genius or a moron.
We'll know in about 10 months.

[JWags85]

Buster Posey is either a genius or a moron.
We'll know in about 10 months.

Honestly, as someone with absolutely no real thoughts on Giants or UT baseball, I kind of love it.  They havent won a playoff series in 10+ years since that last WS.  Getting trounced by the Padres and Dodgers in the NL West.  Why not do something a bit outside of the box?  Now I certainly don't think a manager in MLB can move the needle as much as an NFL or NBA coach, but still can't hurt.  With Vitello, they won't be dispassionate like has been a criticism of the GIants for a few years.

Its really as much of a risk for Vitello as for the Giants.  Dude left a CUSHY gig at UT where he could make $3MM+ for the next 20 years for much less job stability in MLB, where he's never coached or played, for basically the same salary.  Its not like the college guys who move up to the NFL or NBA and get a HUGE salary raise for mediocrity.

If it fails, Vitello will still get a great college job as soon as he wants, but it likely won't be a situation like UT where he took a pretty good program to a national title contending, then winning, one where he'd be basically bulletproof.