MLB 2014

[jon abbey]

you know I am all for dumping the divisions and letting the top four from each league make the postseason, 1/4 and 2/3. that wouldn't fix your issue, though.

[Captain Hate]

Sorry to bring this horrible news: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -republic/

[crawjo]

The managerial skills of Ned Yost have not impressed me this World Series. I think he has overused Herrera and I think he had to find a way to get Billy Butler's bat into the lineup in these games against San Francisco. I even wonder if it would be possible to play Hosmer in left, shift Gordon to right and have Cain in center.

Well, it doesn't matter now. KC has their backs against the wall but if they can win on Tuesday they have the advantage. No team has won a Game 7 of the WS on the road since the 1979 Pirates. Since then, road teams are 0-9 in Game 7s.

[crawjo]

Sorry to bring this horrible news: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... -republic/

Awful tragedy.

[Enforcer]

No team has won a Game 7 of the WS on the road since the 1979 Pirates. Since then, road teams are 0-9 in Game 7s.

That seems kind of fluky, I wonder if it's really predictive. I can't think of a reason why home field advantage would be of so much greater importance in WS Game 7s than other games.

[Harold Baines]

Feel sorry for Peavy, but one reason he was traded to the Red Sox was he couldn't beat the Royals.

[Enforcer]

I missed the game and I've missed almost all of the postseason, but good on the Royals. Hope they take game 7.

[jon abbey]

sorry, Scott. as one of the main Royals fans pointed out on Twitter, an 11-4 postseason record is literally the best you can have without winning the WS. Bumgarner was insane (5 innings on 2 days rest after a 9 inning shutout? WTF!) and if you don't love Sandoval, there's something wrong with you. it will be interesting to see whether this whole experience helps KC next year, you'd think that it would but who knows.

[crawjo]

That was the most impressive pitching performance ever in a World Series. When you understand the context, throwing five shutout relief innings two days after a complete game shutout, all while holding a one-run lead in a Game 7 on the road, there's just no comparison anywhere in the history of baseball.

[Captain Hate]

Bob Gibson in the '67 World Series
3 GS, 3-0 record
27 IP
3 R
14 H
5 BB
26 K


Christy Mathewson, 1905 World Series:
3-0
27 IP
0.00 ERA
1 BB
18 K

I really hate the Giants but was glad I watched something very impressive tonight.

[Enforcer]

Condolences, Scott. I wasn't able to watch the game, but that sucks.

I saw some parallels to the 2006 Tigers, but they never really had a chance in that WS.

[walto]

That was the most impressive pitching performance ever in a World Series. When you understand the context, throwing five shutout relief innings two days after a complete game shutout, all while holding a one-run lead in a Game 7 on the road, there's just no comparison anywhere in the history of baseball.

What about Lolich?

[Captain Hate]

Of course condolences to Scotty because I was rooting hard for the Royals but once MadBum got locked in I figured the only way the Ginats lose is if Bochy lost his fucking mind and turned into that fat pile of shit Mike Hargrove and lifted him in the ninth for the closer.

[walto]

That was the most impressive pitching performance ever in a World Series. When you understand the context, throwing five shutout relief innings two days after a complete game shutout, all while holding a one-run lead in a Game 7 on the road, there's just no comparison anywhere in the history of baseball.

What about Lolich?

Here's wiki on Mickey:

After Gibson had defeated McLain in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series in St. Louis, Lolich helped the Tigers recover by allowing only one run to win Game 2 by a score of 8-1.[11] He also helped his own cause by hitting the first and only home run of his 16-year career.[11] But the Tigers lost the next two games at home to fall behind the Cards 3-1 and were facing elimination when Lolich returned to pitch in Game 5. Despite an unsettled start, when he surrendered a two-run home run to Orlando Cepeda in a three-run first inning, Lolich remained calm and proceeded to pitch eight scoreless innings as the Tigers scored two runs in the fourth and took the lead in the seventh on Al Kaline's bases loaded two-run single. [12] They added another run for a 5-3 win, staving off elimination.[11] Back in St. Louis, the Tigers then won Game 6 behind McLain's solid pitching and a grand slam home run from Jim Northrup in a Series-record-tying ten-run second inning rally to force a crucial Game 7.[13] With just two days of rest, Lolich faced Gibson in Game 7, both having won their previous two starts.[11] They each pitched six scoreless innings, Lolich picking off baserunners Lou Brock and Curt Flood to end a Cardinal threat in the bottom of the sixth, before the Tigers broke through with three runs in the top of the seventh starting with a two-out, two-run triple to deep center by Northrup just over Flood's head for an eventual 4-1 Tiger win and a 4-3 Series triumph.[2][14] Detroit became only the third team in World Series history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win in seven games.[11] Lolich became the 12th pitcher to win three games in a World Series, and the last with three complete games in a single Series.[2] He was the last pitcher with three wins in the same Series before Randy Johnson in 2001 for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lolich's performance earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.[15]

[crawjo]

Bumgarner is more impressive than any of the others, because he dominated in all three of his appearances and because he needed to be great all three times for the Giants to win the World Series. To me it's a notch above Lolich in 1968 or Mathewson in 1905. What separates it is the context of Game 7. Coming into the game in the fifth inning with a 3-2 lead, and holding the Royals there for five innings, is just epic every way you look at it. He had a 0.43 ERA in this Series. For pitchers who threw 20 or more innings in WS history, there are only three who are better: Waite Hoyt in 1921, Christy Mathewson in 1905, and Carl Hubbell in 1933, and none of those Series were won in a decisive Game 7.

[jon abbey]

Bumgarner was amazing, but also KC was one of the worst hitting regular season teams to make the playoffs in decades. the opposition and overall run scoring climate (way down this year) should be factored in a bit.

I still vote for Schilling 2001, he had a lot to do with taking down a Yankee team that had won 4 of the previous 5 WS, starting games 1/4/7 all on 3 days rest.

[Captain Hate]

I don't know how the Nats lost three games to the noodle arms on the Ginats starting staff.

[crawjo]

Bumgarner was amazing, but also KC was one of the worst hitting regular season teams to make the playoffs in decades. the opposition and overall run scoring climate (way down this year) should be factored in a bit.

I still vote for Schilling 2001, he had a lot to do with taking down a Yankee team that had won 4 of the previous 5 WS, starting games 1/4/7 all on 3 days rest.

Or you could go with Randy Johnson, who won three games in that series and pitched in relief on zero days rest in game seven.

[jon abbey]

yes, well aware, thanks.

[crawjo]

yes, well aware, thanks.

Any time!