Tag: NL West

We’re Doin’ And We’re Dyin’ Over Heeeerrrreeee!!!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Extra games. Extra innings. Extra FUN!!

That’s what the young MLB postseason has brought home from the toy store.

Starting with not one, but two, game 163s, both the National League West and Central divisions were decided in winner-take-all fashion Monday night. The winners, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, were rewarded with an actual (five game) series. The losers, the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies, had the pleasure of enduring the stress of win-or-go-home Tuesday night. After an impressive 95-67 season, the Chicago Cubs had the displeasure of losing consecutive games, and will watch the postseason like the rest of us — from their couch.

A ruthless diatribe on the inane nature of the one-game-playoff (in MLB) will not be found here today, for one man can only belabor the same point so many times….

kyle freeland

The Rockies, behind Kyle Freeland, the best pitcher you’ve never heard of, took down the Cubs 2-1 F/13. The Rockies now have the privilege of traveling to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in the National League Division Series.

This series should be a good time, as the Rockies have won 10-of-their-last-12, and the Brewers have won 10-of-their-last-11. 

But….that’s enough talk about the league that will inevitably finish in 2nd place….

Tonight, the 100-win New York Yankees will face-off against the bullpen-gaming Oakland Athletics. Man, what has happened to MLB?! It’s win-or-go-home at Yankee Stadium, as Luis Severino will take the bump for the pinstripes. For the Athletics, Liam Hendriks will get the “start”. I’m not saying this because I’m a Yankee fan, but if they can’t knock this clown around, they don’t deserve to play the Boston Red Sox.

I mean..I dare you to name 10 players on the Athletics’ roster….Oh no, take your time. I’ll wait….

severino 2

Gary Sanchez, despite the uninformed public’s opinion, will be behind the plate (where he belongs). And the Yankees will waste a roster spot for this game by carrying three catchers.

We can dissect, debate, think, and rethink the potential outcome of this game until the cows come home. But at the end of the day, there’s no reason the Yankees should lose. And IF they figure out how to lose, don’t call the fire department….

 

Let the streets burn.

Score Prediction: Yankees 6, Athletics 3.

Boom!

 

Leave your incorrect predictions in the comment section below.

 

National League Mid-Season Report

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

We’ve saved the worst….for last.

Yesterday, we broke down the good half (American League). Today, we’ll get to the half that still (inexplicably) lets pitchers hit (National League)….

National League

Best Team – Arizona Diamondbacks

pi-mlb-dbacks-pirates-062318_vresize_1200_630_high_55

This was harder than it looks. Figuring out the best team in the National League is like ranking your favorite diseases. At 47-34, the Diamondbacks have the 2nd best record in the National League (Milwaukee Brewers: 47-33). While the Diamondbacks, and Paul Goldschmidt, had a May to forget (Goldschmidt hit .144 in May, and the team went 8-19), they’ve bounced back to the tune of 19-7 in June.

Robbie Ray is back. Zack Godley is pitching to his abilities (again). And the other Zack (Greinke) is 5-1 since May. While the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are nipping at their heels, expect the Diamondbacks to win their 1st NL West Division Title since 2011.

Biggest Surprise – Milwaukee Brewers

Cardinals Brewers Baseball

I knew the Milwaukee Brewers were a good baseball team. I just didn’t know they’d be THIS good. To have the best record in the National League, with THIS pitching staff, is no small feat. If you can name the entire starting rotation for the Brewers, I’ll make your next car payment. I’m serious. GO ahead. I’ll wait….

Even ‘The Google’ doesn’t know.

The Brewers’ roster is filled with a long list of good players. No superstars. No CY Young Award candidates. Just good, do a little bit of everything, players. Only time will tell if they can hold off the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central Division.

MVP – Freddie Freeman

freddie

Until May 14th (my birthday), A.J. Pollock was running away with the NL MVP Award. And then he got hurt. Now, your guess is as good as mine….

While the aforementioned Paul Goldschmidt has turned his life around, he’s not the MVP. Freddie is. Freddie Freeman is having the best season of his career. He’s on pace for 31 home runs, 111 rbi, and 12 sbs with a .318 batting average.

Oh, and the Atlanta Braves are in 1st place in the NL East (45-34).

CY Young – Max Scherzer

max

As deserving as Jacob deGrom is of a CY Young Award, Max Scherzer is THAT much better than deGrom. If this was the ‘I Feel Really Badly For You Award’, deGrom would be the unanimous victor. However, Max Scherzer is the best pitcher in MLB.

Now, OPEN YOUR EARS AND LISTEN:

Max Scherzer has been the best pitcher in MLB for the past seven years.

Yes, I’m aware Clayton Kershaw has been in MLB for the past seven years as well. But I’m also aware that you can’t win baseball games from the trainer’s room. While Clayton Kershaw’s stuff is unparalleled, Max Scherzer’s durability makes him the best, most consistent pitcher in MLB.

 

Do you think I’m crazy?!?! Explain yourself in the comment section below….

Heyyyy — My Record Book Is Covered In Smog!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

cody bellinger

Some would say the west coast is the best coast. I wouldn’t say that, nor would anyone with a brain, but it applies to the world of baseball — for now. The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed themselves firmly in the record books this season. They’ve accomplished something that hasn’t been done in 105 years. Before Sunday night’s game, the Dodgers were 43-7 over their last 50 games, matching the 1912 New York Giants for the best record over a 50-game stretch in MLB history.

The Dodgers beat the New York Mets (duh) last night, completing a 3-game sweep of the Mets. The Dodgers posted 2 shutouts in the series, outscoring the Mets 21-4. The Dodgers are now 44-7 over their last 51 games, and are in the midst of a 4-game winning streak. Along the path to the record books, they had 3 lengthy winning streaks of 9, 10, and 11 games. They currently have the best record in baseball and have a strangle-hold on the NL West division.

Their record of 79-32 gives them a winning percentage of .712. Since MLB expanded to a 162-game season, that is the 2nd best winning percentage only to the 2001 Seattle Mariners who finished with a record of 116-46 (.716). This is all the more impressive because the NL West is currently the best division in baseball. If the season ended today, the Arizona Diamondbacks (63-48) and Colorado Rockies (64-48) would be the 2 Wild Card Playoff teams in the NL. Side note: The Dodgers have also lapped the San Francisco Giants about 5,000 times on the racetrack, as the Giants stand 36 games back in the NL West. 36 GAMES BACK!! You’d have to try to be that bad.

Let’s meet the cast of characters on the Los Angeles Dodgers:

Cody Bellinger

Bellinger is the rookie sensation who, like Aaron Judge from the AL, is in the running for Rookie of the Year and MVP. He currently has 32 home runs, 75 r.b.i.’s while hitting .264.

Justin Turner

The bearded one is hitting .349. Need I say more?? Apparently leaving the Mets is the best career move anyone can make. Just ask Daniel Murphy….

Yasiel Puig

Just when you thought he was going to go Brady Anderson on us, and disappear into the sunset, Puig has had a nice resurgence this season. His 21 home runs are a career high, through just 111 games.

Pitching Staff

Despite being on the DL, Clayton Kershaw is having an incredible season. He stands at 15-2, with a 2.04 e.r.a. Yeah, he’s decent.

The Dodgers have as stable a closer as a team could hope for in Kenley Jansen. He has 28 saves in 29 chances. Oh yeah, and he throws 101 m.p.h!!

The most underrated starting pitcher in MLB is Alex Wood.  Wood started the year in the bullpen, but even the Dodgers injuries bring forth good fortune. Rich Hill’s early season blister problem opened up a rotation spot for Wood. Wood ran with the job and never looked back. He’s now the owner of a 13-1 record, and a fashionable 2.33 e.r.a.

And just over a week ago, the Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish. Sounds fair. Sounds totally fair.

 

Will the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series this season?? Post your World Series prediction in the comment section below.

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