Official 2023 Playoff Thread

Phillies still have the advantage. Hard to see Arizona winning two of three against Wheeler, Nola and Mr. October Ranger Suarez. Guess we’re going to have to root for the Astros again.
 
This will be a test, though, for Philly as they're having to play three days in a row for the first time and don't get to rest those bullpen arms as much.
 
thewupk said:
Imagine thinking the reason your team didn't win in the playoffs is because they didn't want it bad enough.
Click to expand...

The "not wanting it bad enough" saw borders on the ridiculous (and it always has). Braves didn't play well. End of story. I never bought into the historic nature of the team and didn't see them as invicible because I thought they had a couple of weaknesses that might show up, but this was a really good team that didn't play well in a short series.

Go back in baseball history and people will find teams that cruised all season waltz through the playoffs unscathed and they will also find a lot of upsets where things fell together for a team less talented on paper. When the teams are on the field, both teams want it (same can't be said for some front offices--I'm looking at you Oakland). It's baseball.
 
Man that was an amazing couple games last night. I guess the winners just wanted it a little more than the losers.
 
If Houston wins it all this year...7 years, 7 ALCS appearances, 5 WS appearances, 3 titles. Will have won back to back.

The Yankees 96-2003... 8 years, 6 ALCS appearances, 6 WS appearances, 4 titles. Had a three-peat

Still a big if on Houston bringing it home. But pretty nuts that they are entering into the convo of a run that literally parallels the Yankees. Also shows how quickly perception can change, because as recently as entering last season, they had lost 2 WS in a row, and 1-2 record on the big stage, and were the team that cheated and post-cheating hadn't won a clean one...

Amazing how quickly things can swing, though that's also hope for the Braves, if we can just get some good playoff fortune these next few years
 
I am not a fan of the ‘not trying’ ‘didn’t want it’ narratives. But I will say the team was flat and zero approach. I could probably find 10+ times a guys swung at a pitch in the dirt ir just above it and then swung at a pitch above the zone in the same AB. That is basically going up and see ball swing at ball. They let the pitcher dictate. They were killing Olson up and in. Ozuna was getting burned away. It was a pathetic effort and it didn’t seem like anyone really cared. It was just another game like it was June 17th not a game in Oct.
 
I think it's called "not being sharp".

Semantics aside, for some reason the Braves stunk up the joint after the all star break and after the postseason break. Several of the top teams have also been terrible after the postseason break. The Astros don't seem to be bothered by these postseason breaks.

So either it's small sample noise (the outcomes of a few series over 2 seasons is hardly a robust sample set), or the Astros know something the rest of the top teams don't...or something in between.

But claiming a professional sports team at the top of their sport "isn't trying" or "doesn't care" is the dumbest thing a fan can possibly say. You joined this board and immediately started saying some pretty dumb things with complete confidence....which is the worst kind of stupid. That's why you are constantly called out. This board isn't FB or Twitter or other congregation of ignorant mouth breathing casual fans. The bar is higher here.
 
Last edited:
Enscheff said:
I think it's called "not being sharp".
Click to expand...

Not being sharp would cause a lack of focus or vice versa. I think they were tired. Staying on top of the game like they were (or anything in life) for several months can wear a person out mentally. I don't think it's that they didn't want it...they just didn't want it as much as the other team. I think we've seen this in the other two playoff games that are going on now.

I agree with the other poster who said it was a pathetic effort and they didn't seem like they really cared.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top