2016 Major League Baseball thread

I muffed the AL west badly. The jury is still out on the NL West but the Giants really have a lot of work to do to catch the hated Dodgers. I also had no idea about Cleveland. The Pirated underperformed. I thought because of the weakness of the bottom of their division that they would have a good shot at a wild card. I also thought the teams in the AL East would beat each other up too much to have two wild card teams.

Jays still can't hit shtty starting pitching. If they don't figure this out making the playoffs won't do them any good anyway.

The AL wildcard is getting really interesting at this point. A tie for the two slots, then a three way tie for runner-up. If either Baltimore or Toronto drop back a game, we could see a four way tie for the second position. Anybody know the tie breaker rules?

they are out there, but the possibilities right now are so numerous it would just give you a migraine trying to figure it out.

I've got a feature to do for BPT in the 29th, I might write that up if things are still so crazy by then.

This article delves in to various tie breaker scenarios:

http://mlb.mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20160906&content_id=199753224&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Essentially, it's all settled on the field. If two or four teams tie for a spot, it's clear enough how it would play out: A plays B for the spot, or A plays B, C plays D, and the two winners play each other. Home field determined by head to head play and then a few other comparative stats.

It's a bit more interesting in a three way tie. A hosts B, then the winner hosts C. The winner of that second game gets the slot. Team with the head to head (and etc.) advantage can pick to either be A or C. So they can either pick home field advantage with the need to win twice, or only need to win once, but on the road.

http://www.espn.com/blog/jayson-sta...l-wild-card-craziness-could-make-nl-look-tame

Marlin's pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident this morning.

CNN story

Vin Scully's last home game is today at 1:00. LA Times has half a dozen articles posted today.

Also dodgers magic number is one so be nice to clinch at home for Vin.

And they did it. Walk off in the 10th. Clinched the NL West. Vin addresses the stadium and says goodbye.

that time when you're 2 games out, go 7-3 and find yourself 5.5 games out.

*sigh*
How can you catch a team that refuses to lose. The only bright point is that most hot streaks fizzile out in the 10-12 game area so maybe it's time they regress a bit. Not that catching them is a practice hope, but I do hope they regress some by the time October gets here. I like the idea of beating Texas, about the only way the post-season could suck for me is if the Jays play Texas and lose) and then playing an epic series against Boston. Obviously I'd want to win but if they play them tough for 7 games and don't quite make it that's fine.

The Jays were the best team last year and should have gone, it sucked to lose to an inferior team. But Boston's not an inferior team.

apparently the guy was much beloved and had a fascinating, even movie worthy, backstory. Apparently he spent a year in jail in Cuba for trying to escape, then when he successfully made it out, under fire from a Cuban gunboat by the way, he saved his mom from drowning when she fell overboard on the way to Mexico.

Look at it this way: from my perspective, the BlueJays continue to refuse to accept the inevitable. I'm tired of seeing the magic number keep dropping by only one point. It would be nice if the Jays could lose tomorrow, then the Sox can clinch on Tuesday.

Anyway, an epic ALCS would be great. Doesn't matter who they play, though, I'm pretty sure the pennant goes to Boston, and they'll play Chicago in the World Series.

Also, it's looking more and more likely that the Jays will not play Texas in the divisional series.

I don't care if it's Boston first then Texas - what I'm saying is, I don't want it to be the team that employs that asshole Odor to be the team the eliminates the Jays. And I don't want to lose the WC game. Otherwise, let the baseball gods decide.

actually, looking at the sched, I have to disagree. The Rangers have Milwaukee and TB both at home. They have a reasonable shot at winning more games than Boston this week.

Sure, either result could happen. I was just reacting to them being tied for best record, something I would not have expected a week ago. But yeah, Texas definitely has an easier final week.

A couple of nice Fernandez stories if you are interested

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-beautiful-baseball-game/

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-tragic-final-night-of-jose-fernandezs-life-023645408.html

Cops ID beer throwing fan

Journalists put up a $1,000 reward to ID him. Turns out the guy was a journalist.

true they arrested a guy but there's some fairly serious doubt that they got the right guy. Has a lot of character witnesses.

By the way, Game 1 of the ALDS was da-shit. I'll take two more like that please!

I'm trying to contain my excitement but Jays beat the Rangers big two, throwing Sanchez versus Colby-friggin-Lewis on Sunday - it's a struggle.

The Giants smash a single off the Cub starting pitchers stomach. He goes out of the game. Later the relief pitcher comes up to bat and hits a home run. I think they are destined this year.

Da Jays.

Oh, and this...





Fuck you, Texas.

Fuuuuuuuuuck you.

Good to see you, @We Are Borg. I'm hoping for an all AL East ALCS. Also, you might want to peruse the Red Room for some interesting threads.