The matchups within the league championship sequence, which start Sunday with the Texas Rangers on the Houston Astros within the ALCS, aren’t precisely what MLB had hoped for.
Three groups with 100-plus wins — the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles — all bowed out shortly, leaving baseball with the all-Texas matchup within the ALCS and an NLCS sequence pitting a rebuilding Arizona Diamondbacks group with no family names in opposition to the star-studded Philadelphia Phillies.
A doable repeat of an Astros-Phillies World Series would doubtless be greeted by yawns. Last yr’s matchup was the second-lowest rated World Series in historical past.
But who is aware of? It may very well be riveting baseball, which is one thing the postseason has lacked within the first two rounds due to all of the blowouts and sweeps.
Here are 5 takeaways from the postseason.
1. Obviously the playoff format will probably be questioned when 3 of the highest 4 seeds who had byes are gone.
The lengthy look ahead to the primary postseason sequence is mainly just like the All-Star break, and since baseball is a sport that depends on the 162-day grind, any change in routine will be hazardous.
Still, the Orioles proved they weren’t prepared for prime time, the Dodgers trotted out three starters who seemed clueless and the Braves couldn’t hit within the clutch. The blame ought to go to them, not the format.
The solely resolution is to alter the wild-card sequence to a do-or-die from best-of-three, shortening the remaining time for the highest seeds. But that will contain dropping TV income, so don’t search for MLB to do something that will have an effect on the golden goose.
2. If you’re a Chicago White Sox fan, you may need skilled PTSD watching Wednesday’s Dodgers recreation.
It occurred through the third inning of Game 3 of the NLDS . Dodgers starter Lance Lynn served up 4 dwelling runs in a single inning in opposition to the Diamondbacks, which by no means had been completed in postseason historical past.
Lynn served up a major-league main 44 dwelling runs through the season, together with 28 in 21 begins for the White Sox. He final gave up 4 dwelling runs in a recreation on July 21 in opposition to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, although not less than he spaced them out over two innings.
In September, Lynn instructed a reporter: “I mean, once you go over 30 (homers), who gives a (bleep)?”
As we found in Chicago when the Sox went south, Lynn doesn’t are inclined to take accountability for his group’s downfall. He was one of many ringleaders in a foul clubhouse tradition, and the Sox had been motivated to seek out somebody to take him off their palms. Fortunately the Dodgers had been prepared to take a threat, which didn’t work out.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see which group indicators him for extra of the identical in 2024.
3. Bryce Harper will be an unlikeable man, particularly to opposing gamers.
After Harper was doubled off first base to finish Game 2 of the NL Division Series, Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia yelled within the postgame clubhouse, “Ha, ha, attaboy, Harper.”
A number of reporters talked about it of their protection, with one naming Arcia because the offender. After Harper homered twice in Game 3, he stared Arcia down as he rounded the bases. Arcia mentioned afterward that Harper “wasn’t supposed to hear it, that’s why we were saying it in the clubhouse.”
That led to MLB Network’s Alanna Rizzo criticizing one of many reporters on “High Heat” for utilizing the remark, calling him a “jackoff” who didn’t deserve a credential and referring to the clubhouse as “sacred space.”
The Baseball Writers Association of America issued a statement saying the reporter was accredited and “to assert otherwise, in vulgar terms, is both unprofessional and unacceptable.” The assertion added: “The BBWAA is deeply troubled that the league’s own network would permit the disparaging of one of our members in this fashion. Scrutinizing our work is part of the territory but comments such as these should have no place on MLBN.”
Rizzo finally apologized to the reporter for her response after an outcry from media.
Will MLB self-discipline somebody it employs on its TV community? Do I must ask?
4. Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy have confronted off many occasions, and the matchup of two future Hall of Fame managers figures to be highlighted on the ALCS telecasts.
Bochy has three World Series rings with the San Francisco Giants, however what I bear in mind most is the 1998 World Series between his San Diego Padres and the New York Yankees. Bochy was pummeled for his choices and took it gracefully.
“It goes with the territory,” Bochy mentioned then. “I’d like to be on this scenario all yr, or yearly, and let individuals take photographs at me. We’re within the World Series, and if you’re enjoying in a sequence like this, each transfer goes to be scrutinized, and that’s fantastic.
“People are watching. That shows you people have interest, especially here in San Diego. And for me, I just have to keep going with what I believe and what my gut tells me. Use my instincts. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.”
It labored most of the time. Bochy’s 49 managerial postseason victories are fifth on the profession listing, and he has a .598 profitable proportion in his 9 journeys to the playoffs.
5. Joe Maddon as soon as referred to as Nick Castellanos and his household a ‘reality show in the making.’
“People would watch it,” Maddon mentioned as Castellanos sizzled for the Cubs after arriving in a commerce in 2019.
Now it’s occurring in Philadelphia, with Castellanos turning into the primary participant with two dwelling runs in back-to-back postseason video games. TBS usually lower to his son, Liam, who was celebrating wildly in his field seat.
Why didn’t the Cubs re-sign Castellanos, who beloved Chicago and needed to return after the 2019 season?
It’s a type of issues that may by no means actually be defined.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com