2026 MLB Thread

[Shaka Shart]

Is it catastrophic though?

You have 3 outs to get a world championship, that's it. 2 game lead in your back pocket.

The risk is now playing another full/random game. Brewers played not to lose that game.

Asking your best pitcher to throw 20ish pitches with a lead, for one inning...you should be sending Miz out there every time. If it doesn't work out, he starts Game 6 if need be.

To be fair that's like 2/3 of a standard miz outing

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Who was available?

1. Keeping Senzetela in (Was at 18 pitches, threw 26 yesterday, and there were 3 lefties coming up in the next 4 spots)
2. Drohan (Was bad in 1 inning against the Dodgers, 7.53 ERA in September)
3. Harrison (Has yet to pitch in the postseason, has been a mess since return from injury)
4. Miz (Only 3 days' rest and slotted to start Game 5, also three lefties coming up)
5. Woody (Threw 18 pitches yesterday in first appearance in almost four months, also three lefties coming up)

Drohan was the safest choice. Miz was the high risk/high reward play. I wanted Miz.

My biggest frustration (besides staying up to watch a loss on delay) is Harrison. Why is he on the roster if you can't trust him to make a single postseason appearance? He hadn't even warmed up until the 8th inning of a game with a 10 run lead. I think Chad Patrick or Grant Anderson would have been much better choices.

Ah well. Get them tomorrow. The Rays will either need to pitch Rasmussen on three day's rest or cobble together a bullpen game with:

Baker throwing 21 pitches in Game 4
Kelly throwing 12 pitches in Game 4
Wells throwing 40 pitches in Games 3/4
Booser throwing 21 pitches in Games 3/4
Seymour throwing 32 pitches in Game 4
Jax, Peralta, and Martinez likely unavailable

It's gotta be Rasmussen. Baker, Kelly, Wells, Booser, and Seymour will all pitch if called upon, but no way they can cover 9 innings themselves and they won't want to use Matz, Cleavanger, or Sulser in a win or go home game.

[Shaka Shart]

1. Keeping Senzetela in (Was at 18 pitches, threw 26 yesterday, and there were 3 lefties coming up in the next 4 spots)
2. Drohan (Was bad in 1 inning against the Dodgers, 7.53 ERA in September)
3. Harrison (Has yet to pitch in the postseason, has been a mess since return from injury)
4. Miz (Only 3 days' rest and slotted to start Game 5, also three lefties coming up)
5. Woody (Threw 18 pitches yesterday in first appearance in almost four months, also three lefties coming up)

Drohan was the safest choice. Miz was the high risk/high reward play. I wanted Miz.

My biggest frustration (besides staying up to watch a loss on delay) is Harrison. Why is he on the roster if you can't trust him to make a single postseason appearance? He hadn't even warmed up until the 8th inning of a game with a 10 run lead. I think Chad Patrick or Grant Anderson would have been much better choices.

Ah well. Get them tomorrow. The Rays will either need to pitch Rasmussen on three day's rest or cobble together a bullpen game with:

Baker throwing 21 pitches in Game 4
Kelly throwing 12 pitches in Game 4
Wells throwing 40 pitches in Games 3/4
Booser throwing 21 pitches in Games 3/4
Seymour throwing 32 pitches in Game 4
Jax, Peralta, and Martinez likely unavailable

It's gotta be Rasmussen. Baker, Kelly, Wells, Booser, and Seymour will all pitch if called upon, but no way they can cover 9 innings themselves and they won't want to use Matz, Cleavanger, or Sulser in a win or go home game.

Ty

[Uncle Rico]

Top 5 of the lineup was 2-23 with 4 walks.  2 of the Rays runs can be attributed to errors.  That's baseball.

[Uncle Rico]

1. Keeping Senzetela in (Was at 18 pitches, threw 26 yesterday, and there were 3 lefties coming up in the next 4 spots)
2. Drohan (Was bad in 1 inning against the Dodgers, 7.53 ERA in September)
3. Harrison (Has yet to pitch in the postseason, has been a mess since return from injury)
4. Miz (Only 3 days' rest and slotted to start Game 5, also three lefties coming up)
5. Woody (Threw 18 pitches yesterday in first appearance in almost four months, also three lefties coming up)

Drohan was the safest choice. Miz was the high risk/high reward play. I wanted Miz.

My biggest frustration (besides staying up to watch a loss on delay) is Harrison. Why is he on the roster if you can't trust him to make a single postseason appearance? He hadn't even warmed up until the 8th inning of a game with a 10 run lead. I think Chad Patrick or Grant Anderson would have been much better choices.

Ah well. Get them tomorrow. The Rays will either need to pitch Rasmussen on three day's rest or cobble together a bullpen game with:

Baker throwing 21 pitches in Game 4
Kelly throwing 12 pitches in Game 4
Wells throwing 40 pitches in Games 3/4
Booser throwing 21 pitches in Games 3/4
Seymour throwing 32 pitches in Game 4
Jax, Peralta, and Martinez likely unavailable

It's gotta be Rasmussen. Baker, Kelly, Wells, Booser, and Seymour will all pitch if called upon, but no way they can cover 9 innings themselves and they won't want to use Matz, Cleavanger, or Sulser in a win or go home game.

It'll be Rasmussen.  I don't think they have another choice.  Hitters will have to do a better job working the count than they did over the final 7-8 innings last night.  Don't let him get in a groove at all.

[The Sultan]

I wonder if Murph thought about Henderson as an option. He is getting an extra rest day since there are two travel days between his starts. Also he's a leftie.

Counterpoint of course is that he didn't have a great outing in game 2.

[GB Warrior]

I wonder if Murph thought about Henderson as an option. He is getting an extra rest day since there are two travel days between his starts. Also he's a leftie.

Counterpoint of course is that he didn't have a great outing in game 2.

Henderson is a righty but thought the same. I would have just ridden with Senzetela but they were just boxed in after not pitching Jojo and Megill more.

I will worry if or when Miz can't outperform Rasmussen and a brutalized pen on short rest. Right now, they just outlasted us and it took an error and a brutal call going to their way to do it over 12 innings.

[Uncle Rico]

I wonder if Murph thought about Henderson as an option. He is getting an extra rest day since there are two travel days between his starts. Also he's a leftie.

Counterpoint of course is that he didn't have a great outing in game 2.

Henderson would have been my choice but understand why the reluctance.

I think the Miz talk is silly.  Using Megill for one batter is questionable and not sticking with Senzatela is at least worth asking the question but the game was lost by better Rays defense and the offense struggling to find anything other than 2 solo shots.

But that's why Murphy gets paid.  He's going to get second guessed and asked these questions.  Wasn't a good night for him, imo, but he's been hitting all the right notes largely with his moves this postseason.

Get 'em tonight

[The Sultan]

I get it. Murph was betting on his line-up eeking out a run early enough that he could roll with Ashby or Senzatela. It just didn't work.

[Uncle Rico]

I get it. Murph was betting on his line-up eeking out a run early enough that he could roll with Ashby or Senzatela. It just didn't work.

That's it in a nutshell.  FWIW:

https://bsky.app/profile/mlb-simulator.bsky.social/post/3myvwt3553q2i

When they failed to score in the 9-11th innings, it was going to be one of the bottom 3 in the bullpen to try and close it out.  I think this is a rare case where having the final at-bat made a difference.

[MuggsyB]

Ty

You can't "ty" my question.

[cheebs09]

That's it in a nutshell.  FWIW:

https://bsky.app/profile/mlb-simulator.bsky.social/post/3myvwt3553q2i

When they failed to score in the 9-11th innings, it was going to be one of the bottom 3 in the bullpen to try and close it out.  I think this is a rare case where having the final at-bat made a difference.

Yup. The Brewers were smoking the ball, but right at people. I think they come out and send a message early to get the Rays on their heels.

[GB Warrior]

That's it in a nutshell.  FWIW:

https://bsky.app/profile/mlb-simulator.bsky.social/post/3myvwt3553q2i

When they failed to score in the 9-11th innings, it was going to be one of the bottom 3 in the bullpen to try and close it out.  I think this is a rare case where having the final at-bat made a difference.

We're now at a spot where we can second guess the bullpen construction to have Woodruff and Harrison on.

[Uncle Rico]

Yup. The Brewers were smoking the ball, but right at people. I think they come out and send a message early to get the Rays on their heels.

The Rays also did a fantastic job hitting their spots on the inner half of the plate over the last half of the game.  If you look at the pitch chart, the Brewers were making outs on pitches in the inner half.  And they were strikes for the most part.

A lot of changeups last night from the Rays.  Definitely how they see they need to attack Milwaukee's hitters.

[Uncle Rico]

We're now at a spot where we can second guess the bullpen construction to have Woodruff and Harrison on.

Harrison I get.  He's the sacrificial lamb if on the wrong side of a blowout or if last night extends any longer.  Woodruff clearly can't go multiple innings. 

They've obviously soured on Patrick considering his lack of usage in the first two rounds but I think I'd have rather seen him last night.

I wonder if Anderson is 100%.  Wasn't he dinged up late?

[The Sultan]

Henderson is a righty but thought the same.

Thank you for the correction.

[CreightonWarrior]

Yup. The Brewers were smoking the ball, but right at people. I think they come out and send a message early to get the Rays on their heels.

the rays will be seeping with confidence. Brewers really need to strike early to dampen that. I have concerns with Miz and whatever is going on with that mound.

[GB Warrior]

Harrison I get.  He's the sacrificial lamb if on the wrong side of a blowout or if last night extends any longer.  Woodruff clearly can't go multiple innings. 

They've obviously soured on Patrick considering his lack of usage in the first two rounds but I think I'd have rather seen him last night.

I wonder if Anderson is 100%.  Wasn't he dinged up late?

Anderson was dinged up or I'm sure he's on. They've really scratched the bottom of the barrel at the bottom of the pen. You're not bringing on Coleman Crow or any of the fringe arms.

Both teams are going to be gassed tomorrow. One has a starter on full rest. The other has a pitcher on short rest that has been regularly pitching on EXTRA rest. Gotta capitalize with early pressure and yet patience with Rasmussen because I don't think he has length.

[Uncle Rico]

Anderson was dinged up or I'm sure he's on. They've really scratched the bottom of the barrel at the bottom of the pen. You're not bringing on Coleman Crow or any of the fringe arms.

Both teams are going to be gassed tomorrow. One has a starter on full rest. The other has a pitcher on short rest that has been regularly pitching on EXTRA rest. Gotta capitalize with early pressure and yet patience with Rasmussen because I don't think he has length.

Too bad the Crew doesn't have a closer like Anders Carlson

[Uncle Rico]

the rays will be seeping with confidence. Brewers really need to strike early to dampen that. I have concerns with Miz and whatever is going on with that mound.

That's fine and dandy, but the Brewers were sleeping with confidence two nights ago.

Rays are a good club.  They're not rolling over either way.

[cheebs09]

That's fine and dandy, but the Brewers were sleeping with confidence two nights ago.

Rays are a good club.  They're not rolling over either way.

At the start of the Series, if you told me we were up 3-1 with Miz pitching, I would have signed up in an instant. I think Jeter said as much.

[The Sultan]

At the start of the Series, if you told me we were up 3-1 with Miz pitching, I would have signed up in an instant. I think Jeter said as much.

And if it doesn't work out tonight, we have two games at home. If they can't win one of the next three, they don't deserve it.

But I am pretty confident they will.

[GB Warrior]

Sigh
https://x.com/cyrthogg/status/2115279599298916584?a=k3DB89-3VY-d0xGImsI&s=46

[TallTitan34]

Congrats to the Rays Dodgers on winning the World Series.  This thing is over

Fixed it for you.

[cheebs09]

Sigh
https://x.com/cyrthogg/status/2115279599298916584?a=k3DB89-3VY-d0xGImsI&s=46

Yeah, that's why I'm not super worried. If they got mowed down with crummy at bats and a ton of strikeouts, I'd worry about the Rays getting momentum. 

Last night felt like them eking out a win after throwing the kitchen sink. That doesn't mean the Rays won't come out and hang 5 on Miz in the first inning, but I still like where the Brewers sit.